Boston @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 8, 2019 ) Boston 2, Detroit 4

The Boston Bruins have ripped off six consecutive victories and appear to be looking at a gimme to keep their winning streak intact when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday afternoon. The red-hot Bruins have amassed an NHL-leading 80 points - 50 more than the Red Wings' league-worst 30 - but dropped a 4-2 decision at Detroit in November.

Atlantic Division-leading Boston has outscored opponents 21-7 during the six-game run after posting a 4-2 victory over Arizona on Saturday - its 16th straight win over the Coyotes. Patrice Bergeron scored one goal and set up two others for the Bruins and also scored in the loss to the Red Wings in November - Detroit's fourth straight win in the series. The sputtering Red Wings ended a nine-game slide (0-8-1) with a shootout win at Buffalo on Thursday night but were blanked at Columbus 24 hours later - their seventh shutout loss of the season and third in four games. "We didn't shoot the puck," coach Jeff Blashill lamented after Detroit was limited to 16 shots for the second time in three games. "If you get the two-on-ones, you gotta shoot the puck. You get opportunities to shoot it, you gotta shoot it. ... We just gotta be better at that."

TIME: 12:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBC, TVA

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (13-39-4): Rookie defenseman Gustav Lindstrom played 12 minutes in his NHL debut at Buffalo but was forced into a bigger role Friday when fellow blue-liner Madison Bowey was hurt in the first period. The 21-year-old Lindstrom responded with three hits, a blocked shot and a takeaway while logging nearly 20 1/2 minutes. "He's got poise with the puck," veteran goaltender Jimmy Howard told the media. "Nothing seems to rattle him and he's in position. He looks like he's a very promising player for the Red Wings."

ABOUT THE BRUINS (34-10-12): Defenseman Brandon Carlo is expected to join the team in Motown after missing Saturday's game because of a family issue, but Boston could be without fellow blue-liner Jeremy Lauzon, who drew a match penalty for a hit to the head Saturday and could face disciplinary action from the league. David Pastrnak, who had three goals in four meetings versus Detroit last season, needs one tally to set a career high with 39. The Bruins had two power-play goals Saturday and are 8-for-21 in the last five games.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins G Jaroslav Halak enters Sunday's game having allowing four goals during a three-start winning streak.

2. Red Wings G Jonathan Bernier, who has allowed six goals in his last three starts, collected two assists in Detroit's early-season win over Boston.

3. Bruins F Jake DeBrusk has scored in four of the last six games and has four goals in eight matchups versus Detroit.

PREDICTION: Bruins 3, Red Wings 2