Carolina @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2018 ) Boston 3, Carolina 5

The Boston Bruins have not lost in regulation since prior to the All-Star break but still can't shake Toronto in the battle for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Carolina Hurricanes are nearly as hot and locked in a tight duel for a playoff spot as they seek their sixth consecutive win when they visit the Bruins on Tuesday night.

Boston is 3-0-0 on its six-game homestand and extended its point streak to 16 games (12-0-4) by squeezing out a 1-0 win over lowly New Jersey on Saturday. "At the end of the day we got the two points," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. "In the regular season that’s what you need, I’ll take it and we’ll focus on the next one.” The Hurricanes won at Florida for the second time during their five-game winning streak to improve to 13-3-0 in their last 16 games and move into third in the Metropolitan Division. "Next game up. That's what we're doing," defenseman Brett Pesce said. "We stress on not taking steps back. No matter who we're playing, it's all about us and how we play."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVAS, Sportsnet, FS Carolina, NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (36-23-6): Sebastian Aho has scored in three straight games, including the OT winner Saturday, to extend his point streak to five games and boost his team-high goal total to 27. Aho, who is two shy of matching last season's career-high total, scored twice on Dec. 23 as Carolina ended a four-game skid in the series with a 5-3 win over the Bruins and has six tallies and 10 points in eight meetings. Defenseman Calvin de Haan was back at practice Monday after missing two games but his status is unclear.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (39-17-9): Boston received a mild scare at Monday's practice when captain Zdeno Chara took a puck to the face but, while he is fine, the news was considerably bleaker concerning fellow defenseman Kevan Miller. Having already missed the past three games, Miller was downgraded to week-to-week, coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters. "He got a little bit of bad news the other day with his MRI,” Cassidy said. “We didn’t think it was much, but they found something there. So it’s a little bit more serious than we first thought."

OVERTIME

1. Boston G Jaroslav Halak, who has allowed four goals during a four-start winning streak, will face Carolina.

2. Carolina will honor the roots of the franchise by wearing Hartford Whalers jerseys in Tuesday's game.

3. Boston's 16-game point streak is its longest since an 18-game run last season.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Hurricanes 3