Boston @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2019 ) Florida 5, Boston 4

The Boston Bruins look to reignite their offense and put an end to a season-high five-game losing streak - four in regulation - when they visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday for an Atlantic Division battle. The Bruins, who still lead the division by eight points, managed seven goals in the last four contests and have not scored more than three since posting eight against Montreal on Nov. 26.

“I think we know the kind of team we are,” Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy told reporters after Thursday’s 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay. “We know we’re a special group. These things happen, what we’re going through right now. Trying to find a recipe to get back in the win column.” The Bruins need to get their power play in gear again after scoring once in 21 tries over the past six games and hope to even the season series with the Panthers after dropping a 5-4 decision in a shootout Nov. 12 in Boston. Florida has cooled off as well with three wins in its past nine contests and is not taking full advantage of a monster nine-game homestand with a 3-3-0 record after suffering a 3-1 setback against the New York Islanders on Thursday. “This game, we didn’t create enough good scoring chances,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov told reporters. “We had a couple, but not as much as we wanted. We’ve just got to play better offensively and play a little less time in our own zone.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Florida

ABOUT THE BRUINS (20-7-6): Left wing Brad Marchand boasts four assists in the last three outings and leads the team with 48 points, but has not added to his 18-goal total during an eight-game drought. Right wing David Pastrnak (46 points) tops the league with 26 goals, despite managing one in six games, while linemate Patrice Bergeron scored Thursday - his second in three contests since returning from the injured list. Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara had an assist Thursday along with his second fight (Pat Maroon) in two games, and leads the team with a plus-19 rating (plus-281 in his career).

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (15-11-5): Left wing Mike Hoffman boasts two goals along with three assists during a four-game point streak and right wing Brett Connolly scored two of his team-high 14 goals in the past four contests. Forwards Jonathan Huberdeau (37 points) and Barkov (36) top the team, but were held to one combined one assist in the past two games, while goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is in the process of turning his season around with a .958 save percentage over the past four outings. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad had a goal in the victory at Boston last month and owns a team-best plus-10 rating.

OVERTIME

1. Boston F Charlie Coyle is one goal from 100 for his career, but has not made the scoresheet in five straight games.

2. Florida D Mike Matheson (three points, minus-9, 25 games) was a healthy scratch Thursday, but is expected back in the lineup Saturday.

3. The Panthers gave up three power-play goals in the last three games and the Bruins killed just 3-of-6 in the past two.

PREDICTION: Panthers 4, Bruins 3