One successful Boston-area coach in the last two decades will be leading his team to another AFC Championship game appearance. The other is fighting for his coaching career in The Hub.

By the time Bill Belichick makes his final adjustments for the Patriots’ matchup with the Steelers, Claude Julien’s seat may get even hotter when all is said and done with the first game of the Boston-Pittsburgh sports doubleheader.

Losers of three straight, including two embarrassing losses to the lowly Islanders and Red Wings and a last-minute letdown against the Blackhawks, the Bruins are facing desperate times. They have dropped to third in the Atlantic Division. Points are at a premium with every team having a game in hand on the Black and Gold.

The one thing the Bruins have going for them? They’ve been quite successful against the Penguins since the NHL realigned its divisions in the 2013-14 season. They are 7-1-2 in their last 10 against the Penguins that includes an overtime loss in the first meeting between the two teams last month.

Though the defense was solid up until Marian Hossa’s goal on Friday, the Bruins are going to need a well-rounded effort against the Penguins this afternoon. Their coach is going to depend on them getting quality shots, lighting the lamp and playing sound defense against a Pens team that comes in winners of three straight.

Gametime: 3:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/100.7 WZLX
Records: Bruins 23-20-6 (52 points), Penguins 29-11-5 (63 points)
Location: PPG Paints Arena

Bruins projected lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Frank Vatrano
Tim Schaller-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Ryan Spooner-Riley Nash-David Backes
Matt Beleskey-Dominic Moore-Austin Czarnik

Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
John-Michael Liles-Joe Morrow

Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre

Penguins projected lines

Conor Sheary-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Jake Guentzel-Evgeni Malkin-Patric Hornqvist
Carl Hagelin-Nick Bonino-Phil Kessel
Chris Kunitz-Eric Fehr-Scott Wilson

Olli Maata-Trevor Daley
Ian Cole-Justin Schultz
Cameron Gaunce-Chad Ruhwedel

Matt Murray
Marc-Andre Fleury

Today’s storylines

– While it wasn’t lacking per se, the Bruins offensive effort against the Blackhawks wasn’t up to par with the defense. Sure they had some quality chances on Scott Darling as they outshot Chicago 30-22, but most of their chances came from the perimeter and were mostly one and done. The day after at Warrior Ice Arena, they worked on getting traffic in front and looking for tips or rebounds. With the differences in skill level, the Bruins will need to grind it out if they want to snap their skid and simultaneously end the Pens streak.

– For the first two games, John-Michael Liles and Joe Morrow were liabilities as the last defensive pairing. With injuries to Colin and Kevan Miller, the Bruins are stuck with the Liles-Morrow pairing. They are coming off a pretty good effort against the Blackhawks and, like the rest of the team, will look to build off that in the Boston-Pittsburgh undercard this afternoon.