Boston @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 20, 2018 ) Anaheim 1, Boston 3

The Boston Bruins have earned points in eight straight games but are heading into perhaps their most difficult stretch of the season without their leading goal scorer. Having won three in a row and five of six, the surging Bruins will play their next five on the road as part of a rugged seven-game stretch with a visit to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Boston ran its winning streak to three in its first game without 31-goal scorer David Pastrnak with a 6-3 victory over red-hot Chicago with its best offensive output since Jan. 3. "We're going to need contributions from everybody with Pasta going down like that," forward Brad Marchand said. "It's great to see them add so much depth to our group. We need that to continue." The Ducks finally ended an ugly seven-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Vancouver on Wednesday as general manager Bob Murray won his NHL coaching debut after firing Randy Caryle. "I thought the emotion was good. I thought the effort was good," Murray said after Anaheim's third victory in 22 games. "We haven't won in a very long time."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NESN (Boston), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)

ABOUT THE BRUINS (32-17-8): Marchand had a goal and three assists to boost his team-high point total to 69, but Boston received plenty of secondary scoring versus Chicago -- something that has been lacking all season. Second-line center David Krejci scored twice and set up another tally while Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen also had three-point games with a goal and two assists each. “It’s just a matter of me actually going out there and scoring,” said DeBrusk, who halted a 13-game goal drought. "It’s all good signs, especially with Pasta out right now. Hopefully, we can just keep it going.”

ABOUT THE DUCKS (22-26-9): Not only was Anaheim outscored 37-8 during its slide, but it returned home with major issues in net as backup Chad Johnson joined starter John Gibson on injured reserve. Kevin Boyle, who made in 24 saves in relief Saturday at Philadelphia in his NHL debut, received the nod against Vancouver and responded with a 35-save effort to join Gibson as the only goaltenders in franchise history to post a shutout in their first start. "It's something you dream of growing up a little kid playing street hockey," Boyle said. "I can honestly say it's exceeded everything I ever dreamt of."

OVERTIME

1. Boston beat Anaheim 3-1 on Dec. 20 to end a nine-game losing streak in the series.

2. Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf has 15 points in 17 games versus Boston.

3. Bruins G Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves to beat the Ducks in December and will make the start Friday.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Ducks 2