The (15-12-2) Winnipeg Jets open a four-game homestand tonight at MTS Centre against the (19-5-3) Boston Bruins.
The Jets are tied with Carolina at 32 points, however, Winnipeg is second in the Southeast Division based on the fact the Hurricanes have played one less game. In the Eastern Conference standings, Winnipeg is seventh.
Head coach Claude Noel confirmed Alexander Burmistrov returns to action after being a healthy scratch for the last four games.
Ondrej Pavelec starts his seventh consecutive game in goal.
Jets Projected Lines:
Ladd-Little-Wheeler
Kane-Jokinen-Miettinen
Wright-Antropov-Wellwood
Tangradi-Burmistrov-Thorburn
Clitsome-Byfuglien
Hainsey-Bogosian
Stuart-Meech
Captain Andrew Ladd is on a four-game point streak (one goal and four assists).
Zach Bogosian has a goal and an assist in the last two games.
Newly signed defenseman Arturs Kulda, who is No. 23 on the roster as Bogosian now wears No. 44, will not play tonight. He has 15 games of NHL experience over the past three years between Atlanta and Winnipeg.
Tuukka Rask starts his second straight game in goal for Boston. He's coming off a 16-save game Sunday in a 2-1 loss at Pittsburgh.
21-year-old Ryan Spooner will play his second NHL game tonight after being recalled last night from the Providence Bruins. He has 45 points (12 goals and 33 assists) in 50 AHL games this season.
Bruins Projected Lines:
Lucic-Spooner-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Pandolfo-Peverley-Caron
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Hamilton
Ference-McQuaid
The Bruins have the best penalty kill in the NHL at 93 per cent. On the road, they've only given up one goal against on 48 opposing power plays.
Tonight is the final game of the season between Boston and Winnipeg. The Bruins are 2-0 so far, outscoring the Jets 5-3. Brad Marchand leads all scorers in the season series with two goals.
