Troiani Rink Report

The Black and Gold return home to Boston to host the Utah Mammoth as both clubs fight to emerge from the middle of their respective division standings.

The Bruins are 4-1-0 in their last five contests, including two wins on the road before falling 6-2 to the Minnesota Wild to end their three-game road trip. The Mammoth have gone 2-3-0 in their last five, but snapped a three-game losing skid with wins over the Seattle Kraken and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Despite the momentary bump in the road, Boston is 11-5-0 at home this season, including winners of three straight over the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and New Jersey Devils, and firmly planted in the postseason hunt with 38 points.

The Bruins kick off a five-game homestand with Tuesday night’s game against Utah. Boston hosts the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens before the holiday break.

Since returning to the lineup after a five-game absence with an undisclosed injury, David Pastrnak has been nothing short of magnificent for the Bruins.

The star forward notched a combined seven points in his first two games back before being held off the scoresheet in Boston’s loss to Minnesota. Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 36 points (13 goals and 23 assists) in 28 games this season. Morgan Geekie is right behind Pastrnak with 22 goals and 13 assists for 35 points.

Jeremy Swayman will get the start in net for Boston. The 27-year-old goaltender posts a 2.83 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage through 21 games this season.

Across the ice, Karel Vejmelka is expected to get the nod for Utah. He has a 2.78 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage, with a 14-9-2 record through 26 games played.

The two clubs meet for the second and final contest this season. Utah defeated the Bruins 3-2 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Oct. 19. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Here are the projected lines and defensive pairings for both clubs:

BOSTON BRUINS (19-14-0)
Morgan Geekie — Elias Lindholm — David Pastrnak
Marat Khusnutdinov — Pavel Zacha — Casey Mittelstadt
Alex Steeves — Fraser Minten — Michael Eyssimont
Tanner Jeannot — Sean Kuraly — Mark Kastelic

Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm — Andrew Peeke
Mason Lohrei — Victor Soderstrom

Jeremy Swayman

UTAH MAMMOTH (16-15-3)
Clayton Keller — Nick Schmaltz — JJ Peterka
Lawson Crouse — Barrett Hayton — Dylan Guenther
Michael Carcone — Jack McBain — Daniil But
Liam O’Brien — Kevin Stenlund — Kailer Yamamoto

Mikhail Sergachev — Sean Durzi
Nate Schmidt — John Marino
Ian Cole — Olli Maatta

Karel Vejmelka

ODDS AND ENDS
Special Teams
Power Play: Boston 25.5%, Utah 15.6%
Power-Play Goals: Boston 24, Utah 15
Penalty Kill: Boston 81.0%, Utah 83.9%
Shorthanded Goals: Boston 1, Utah 3
Penalty Minutes: Boston 398, Utah 281

Offense and Defense
Goals Scored: Boston 107, Utah 106
Goals Allowed: Boston 105, Utah 101

Point Streaks:
Boston: Tanner Jeannot (2 Games / 0-2-2)
Sean Kuraly (3 Games /1-3-4)
Utah: Kailer Yamamoto (2 Games / 1-1-2)
Dylan Guenther (4 Games / 5-0-5)
JJ Peterka (2 Games / 1-1-2)
Mikhail Sergachev (2 Games / 0-2-2)
Nick Schmaltz (2 Games / 1-3-4)