The Bruins open up this week, Saturday the 23rd – Friday the 29th of January, with a series of back-to-back games. This will mark the Bruins’ 11th set of consecutive-night games [17 total] of the season – with a 5-3-2 record in game ones, and 5-4-1 in games twos.

Good news for the B’s, and their fans: Boston will not be playing in any games outside the Eastern Time Zone for the remainder of the 2009-10 season. So no more west coast traveling “excuses” from here-on-out.

Jumping ahead: The Bruins have 11 more games lined-up from now until the Olympic break – Feb. 13. Of those 11 games, five are Division rivals – so those would be 10 much needed, and valuable, points.

Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010: Bruins vs. Senators at the TD Garden, 1pm EST start time.

The Bruins will host the Senators for the sixth and final time this season. The Bruins hold a 5-1-0 record against the Sens this season, and are coming off a 5-1 lackluster defeat from their last meeting on the 18th.

Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010: Bruins @ Hurricanes at the RBC Center, 5pm EST start time.
The Bruins hold a 1-0-0 record against the ‘Canes this season after beating them up, 7-2, on Oct. 3, 2009. This will be their second of four contests this season, and 172nd meeting in their lifetime series. Boston holds a 90-63-16-2 record over Carolina, with a 592-509 scoring advantage.

Last season, the Bruins swept the Hurricanes in their regular season series – before losing in the second round of the playoffs in seven games.

The ‘Canes will be playing on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers, and will be playing in conse3cutive nights for the 10th time this season. Carolina posts an 0-8-1 record in game ones, and 3-5-1 in game twos.

Monday, Jan. 25 – Thursday, Jan. 29, 2010: No games scheduled

Monday, Jan. 25: practice is scheduled for 11:30am EST at Ristuccia Arena – located at 190 Main Street, Wilmington, MA.

Tuesday Jan. 26 – Thursday Jan. 29: practices are scheduled at 10:30am EST at Ristuccia Arena; and 11:30am on Thursday.

Friday, Jan. 30, 2010: Bruins vs. Sabres at the TD Garden, 7:30pm EST start time.

The Bruins host the Northeast Division-leading Buffalo Sabres on Friday night – their third of six meetings this season. Boston took the previous two contests; 4-2 in Boston on Nov. 7 and a 2-1 victory in Buffalo on Nov. 20.

Buffalo [30-12-7,  5th in the NHL, 3rd Eastern Conference] are currently tied with second-place New Jersey Devils with 67 points. The Sabres will be playing three games from now until Friday: Tonight @ San Jose; Monday @ Vancouver; Wednesday vs. New Jersey.