NHL Tuesday Preview: Ottawa vs. Boston

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The Boston Bruins look to repeat as champions, but they will have to step up their play in the second half to include the first game against Ottawa.

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This will be the Senators' second visit to TD Garden and the third meeting between the teams. The Bruins have won the previous two matchups -- beating the Senators 5-3 at TD Garden on Nov. 1 and scoring a 5-2 decision at Scotiabank Place on Dec. 14. The Bruins have not only won the last six meetings, but 18 of the last 22.

It'll be interesting to see the reception Bruins goalie Tim Thomas receives from the hometown faithful on Tuesday. Thomas refused to accompany his teammates to the White House with the Stanley Cup on Jan. 23, instead making a political statement by exercising his "right as a free citizen."

Goalie Craig Anderson (25-16-4) not only leads all NHL goalies in ice time (2,626:59), but has faced more rubber (1,411 shots against) and made more saves (1,284) than any other at his position. Despite starting the team's last 14 straight games, Anderson wasn't complaining.

The Bruins are 2-2-1 over their last five games and have allowed 19 goals over that span. Still, despite the slip, the team remains two points behind the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers through 47 games. Captain Zdeno Chara hasn't scored a goal in 16 games with just 6 assists during that drought. Meanwhile, right wing Tyler Seguin has scored twice in his last two games and entered the break tied for the team scoring lead with center Patrice Bergeron with 43 points.

The Bruins will need to snap their recent slumping play and take down Ottawa in a game they they should win, unless they have some letdown after the break.