For the first time in the Bruce Cassidy era, the Bruins enter a game having lost two straight.

Their last loss less than 24 hours ago against the Maple Leafs might have been the most frustrating in terms of potential playoff implications. Let alone the fact that a rather dubious interference call on Dominic Moore late in the third period proving to be the turning point of that 4-2 loss in Toronto.

The memory of the frustrating ending north of the border will need to be erased from the minds of the Bruins, and quickly. The Ottawa Senators, a team that has taken both meetings from the Black and Gold, await the B’s arrival at TD Garden.

The Sens, themselves, come in losers of two straight after a shootout and regulation loss to the Canadiens this past weekend. Ottawa currently holds a four-point edge over Boston for second place in the Atlantic Division.

Leading the Leafs by only one point for third in the Atlantic, the Bruins are in desperate need of a bounce back. Otherwise, they may be holding a wild card spot by the time they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to TD Garden on Thursday night.

Gametime: 7:00 pm
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins 38-28-6 (82 points), Senators 39-24-8 (86 points)
Location: TD Garden

Bruins projected lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Backes
Matt Beleskey-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Frank Vatrano-Ryan Spooner-Drew Stafford
Riley Nash-Dominic Moore-Noel Acciari

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

Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin

Senators projected lines

Zack Smith-Kyle Turris-Bobby Ryan
Mike Hoffman-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Tom Pyatt
Ryan Dzingel-Derick Brassard-Alex Burrows
Viktor Stalberg-Chris Kelly-Tommy Wingels

Marc Methot-Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf-Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki-Chris Wideman

Craig Anderson
Mike Condon

Tonight’s storylines

– Following Sunday’s practice, Cassidy hinted that he may start Tuukka Rask in the pivotal back-to-back. Assuming that holds true, this will mark the third time this year where Rask earned the nod for back-to-back games. In those two instances, Rask has given up five goals – all coming against the Washington Capitals at the beginning of February – and has a record of 1-1. Given the situation in hand, the Bruins interim coach may indeed give Rask the nod in another pivotal contest.

– With guys like Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak carrying the offensive load of late, the Bruins are hoping to get their secondary scoring up to speed. From Frank Vatrano undergoing a 10-game goal-scoring drought to Drew Stafford trying to overcome the post-trade deadline blues and Ryan Spooner trying to get up to speed after missing a few games with a concussion, Cassidy is going to need more from his bottom six forwards. With two points on the line, the Bruins need to show desperation throughout the lineup against a Sens team that has had their number over the last few seasons.