Hobbled Jagr, Panthers Face Off Against Rival Bruins
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Boston was outscored 16-7 during a season-opening three-game skid and had permitted 21 goals in its first four home games before shutting down the Coyotes.
"Our thinking is defense first. We take a lot of pride in our battles," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said. "We're still working on our goals-against improvements. We're getting better goaltending lately. It's a reflection of being better than we started."
Florida rolled to its second straight lopsided victory by drubbing Colorado behind three power-play goals and a short-handed tally. "(Special teams) are huge, it's a big part of the game now. It gets the momentum going," said Vincent Trocheck, who scored twice and added an assist.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN Florida
ABOUT THE BRUINS (4-3-1): David Krejci continued his torrid start for Boston by scoring twice in Tuesday's rout, extending his season-opening point streak to eight games and boosting his team-leading totals to seven goals and 14 points. "It's really nice when the puck goes into the net, but it's nice we've won four of the last five games," Krejci said. Forward Jimmy Hayes, acquired from the Panthers in an offseason trade in exchange for Reilly Smith, had a goal and a pair of assists versus Arizona.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (5-3-1): Jaromir Jagr, who leads the team in goals (six) and points (10), left Tuesday's game due to a lower-body injury and is questionable after skating for part of Thursday's practice. "I was feeling good early, then it got sore. Every 24 hours makes a huge difference," said the 43-year-old Jagr, who is also dealing with sore ribs that makes it hard for him to breathe. I want to play every game but I have to be able to play. I'll go in morning skate and see what happens."
OVERTIME
1. The teams split four meetings last season, with the home club prevailing in each.
2. Krejci needs one assist to reach 300 for his career.
3. Florida recalled F Logan Shaw from Portland of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
The Panthers face the Boston Bruins on Friday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. You can hear every game on Sports Radio 560 WQAM, the radio home of the Florida Panthers.
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