Two Atlantic division rivals face off on the ice Sunday in the Motor City when the Boston Bruins (20-7-6, 46 points, 1st Atlantic) pay a visit to Little Caesars Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings (17-15-4, 38 points, 5th Atlantic). Boston will play the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night before heading off to Detroit for Sunday's game with the Red Wings. Boston defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Wednesday night to snap a four-game losing streak. Detroit defeated the Nashville Predators 5-4 on Wednesday, snapping a two-game losing streak. Boston will play without D Derek Forbort and LW Milan Lucic. Detroit will play without C Joe Veleno, RW Christian Fischer, G Ville Husso, C Klim Kostin and RW Matt Luff.
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The Boston Bruins are averaging 3.09 goals per game which is only 17th in the NHL and take an average of 30.8 shots per game which is 15th. Boston is winning 50.4% of its faceoffs, which is 16th. The Bruins have the fourth best power play, scoring 26.5% of the time with the man advantage. David Pastrnak is the stats general for Boston with team highs in goals scored (20), assists (25) and points (45). Brad Marchand is second in goals scored with 13 and Marchand is also second in both assists (17) and points (30).
Boston is fifth best in goals against average at 2.61. The Bruins are allowing an average of 32.2 shots per game which is 25th and is a good example of how good the goalies are as they face plenty of shots but have a collective 2.61 goals against average. Boston has the third best penalty kill unit in hockey at 86.5%. Boston's goalies have made an equal number of appearances at 17. Jeremy Swayman is 10-2-4 with a 2.17 goals against average .929 save percentage and Linus Ullmark is 10-5-2 with a 2.87 goals against average and .914 save percentage. Swayman has two shutouts.