The B's start their week hot after a hot road trip

The Boston Bruins entered the New Year atop the Northeast Division and third overall in the East. After concluding a five-game road trip last night with a 2-1 victory in Toronto over the Maple Leafs, where they took eight of 10 points (3-0-2), the B’s are still in the same positions in the Conference, and  eighth overall in the NHL.

WHERE THEY STAND:

• 22-11-6 overall record
• +25 goal differential (4th)
• 85.4% penalty-kill (3rd)
• 17.7% power play (14th)
• 2.10 goals-against per game (1st)
• 2.87 goals-for per game (13th)
• Plus-24 (3rd)

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 vs. Minnesota Wild: The B’s will be donning their Third Jersey’s in their one and only meeting with former teammate Chuck Kobasew and the Wild. Boston is 2-8-0 all-time vs. Minnesota, and have been outscored 30-15 over those 10 meetings.

The last time vs. Minnesota:

Boston Home Win — None
Boston Road Win — Nov. 25, 2009 (2-1/SO)
Minnesota Home Win — Oct. 11, 2008 (4-3)
Minnesota Road Win — Jan. 6, 2009 (1-0)

Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 at Montreal Canadiens: The Bruins will be facing their longtime nemesis’ in the Montreal Canadiens for the third of six meetings this 2010-11 NHL season. The B’s are 0-2-0 thus far against the Habs: :Losing Game 1, 3-1, on Nov. 7 in Boston, and 4-3 inside the Bell Centre on Dec. 17 in Game 2.

Boston is 6-5-4 in their last 15 meetings with the Canadiens, and have not defeated the almighty Habs since Feb. 7, 2009 — a 3-0 victory in Montreal.

This meeting will be the 708th all time between the two, with the B’s holding a 263-335-103-6 losing record.

Jumping ahead: Concluding this week, the Bruins will have a 10-game schedule in 16 days to finish out the month of Jan. That includes one back-to-back set of contest — Pittsburgh and Ottawa — (No. 8 of 14 consecutive sets) and three sets of three games in four nights (of 15 such sets).

Upcoming practice schedule: All practices at Ristuccia Arena (190 Main St. Wilmington, Mass.) are free to the public, and are subject to change without notice.

Wednesday, Jan. 5: 10:30 a.m. practice at Ristuccia Arena
Thursday, Jan. 6: 10:30 a.m. pregame skate at the TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Friday, Jan. 7: 11:30 a.m.  practice at Ristuccia Arena — travel to Montreal