The first game of the Bruce Cassidy era resulted in an up-tempo and efficient Bruins squad that played with a chip on their shoulder in their 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.

The second game represents another Western Conference foe, the Vancouver Canucks, who come in off an impressive 3-0 win in Columbus. Although they are 4-5-1 in their last 10 and are slipping in the chase for the wild card spots in the West, the Bruins can ill-afford to take this team lightly especially given their track record against teams beneath them in the standings.

Will the same problems of teams beneath the Bruins in the standings having their way at TD Garden carry over from Claude Julien to Cassidy? Or will the Bruins, who have scored 11 goals in their last two games, continue their offensive onslaught?

An important game for the Black and Gold – their first of a back-to-back at home before the bye week – who enter today’s game in the final wild card spot

Gametime: 1:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins 27-23-6 (60 points), Canucks 24-24-6 (54 points)
Location: TD Garden

Bruins projected lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Backes
Peter Cehlarik-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Frank Vatrano-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Tim Schaller-Dominic Moore-Riley Nash

Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller-Colin Miller

Anton Khudobin
Tuukka Rask

Canucks projected lines

Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Loui Eriksson
Markus Granlund-Brandon Sutter-Jannik Hansen
Jayson Megna-Bo Horvat-Alexandre Burrows
Reid Boucher-Michael Chaput-Jack Skille

Alexander Edler-Troy Stecher
Luca Sbisa-Chris Tanev
Nikita Tryamkin-Ben Hutton

Ryan Miller
Jakob Markstrom

Today’s storylines

Former Bruin Loui Eriksson signed a six-year deal worth $36 million with the Canucks this past off-season. (Photo by Joe Makarski, Bruins Daily)

– Ah, yes. Another former Bruin returns to Causeway Street this afternoon. For three years, Loui Eriksson’s Boston tenure was filled with ups and downs. Last season was his most successful as he notched 63 points (30 goals, 33 assists) that earned him a big payday in Vancouver this off-season. So far, the Canucks’ investment isn’t panning out as they hoped as he has 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists and is a minus-seven. Playing on a line with fellow the Sedin twins, Eriksson finally broke a seven-game scoreless skid in Vancouver’s win over Columbus.

– After missing the last game due to illness, captain Zdeno Chara returned to practice on Friday. Even with Cassidy’s lineup changes, the 6-foot-9 defenseman should return to his normal spot with Brandon Carlo on the Bruins’ top defensive pairing this afternoon.

– Lost during the Bruins PR blunder of Julien’s firing was the recent callup of Peter Cehlarik. At Warrior Ice Arena on Friday, the Slovak skated with David Pastrnak and David Krejci. If that’s any indicator, then he could very well make his NHL debut this afternoon. His offensive touch was a nice addition in Providence where he tallied 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in his first 40 games at the AHL level.