Preview: Bruins at Blue Jackets

BRUINS (18-14-4) at BLUE JACKETS (23-5-4)
7 p.m. ET; SN, FS-O, NESN, NHL.TV

Bruins team scope

The Boston Bruins could be the perfect opponent to end the Columbus Blue Jackets' 12-game winning streak. The Bruins have given Columbus two of its five regulation defeats this season and have won six of their past seven games at Nationwide Arena, including a 6-3 victory in the first game of the season on Oct. 13. "What you have to understand is they're playing much better than they did back then," coach Claude Julien said. "We can look at some of the stuff we did well and then we can talk about it but at the end of the night it's about playing a team that's way better than what we played before." Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky leads the NHL with 21 wins but is 0-4-2 against the Bruins including a 5-2 loss in Boston on Nov. 10, when he allowed four goals in a 4:01 span of the first period before being pulled. Columbus has gone 17-1-2 since.

Blue Jackets team scope

Columbus' winning streak, two games longer than their previous record, has brought unprecedented attention. "Teams aren't going to take us lightly. We're ready for the challenge and accept it," forward Cam Atkinson said. The Blue Jackets lead the League with 50 points, one ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, but the emphasis for coach John Tortorella after the morning skate was to make sure the players aren't satisfied. "Three days off. Christmas is over," he said. "The League is going to get better. Players are going to get better so we have to do the things that we've done to be successful so far, plus be better individually and as a team." Forward Scott Hartnell doesn't see complacency as a problem. "We have a focus," he said. "That's the biggest thing I find not only for myself but you look around after the games or the morning skates, guys are focused. When you have that and preparation you're going to be on most games. We have 52 games left. We need to not only be good but great. Everyone is going to be gunning for us. It's good because it keeps us sharp, mentally ready to go." Columbus has outscored opponents 46-18 during the win streak and hasn't lost since a 2-1 shootout loss at the Florida Panthers on Nov. 26. The Blue Jackets are 13-0-1 since losing 2-0 to the Calgary Flames at home on Nov. 23.

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Ryan Spooner -- David Krejci -- David Backes
Frank Vatrano -- Austin Czarnik -- Riley Nash
Anton Blidh -- Dominic Moore -- Jimmy Hayes
Zdeno Chara -- Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug -- Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller -- Colin Miller
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Scratched: Noel Acciari, Tim Schaller, Joe Morrow
Injured:John-Michael Liles (concussion), Matt Beleskey (knee)

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Brandon Saad -- Alex Wennberg -- Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner -- Brandon Dubinsky -- Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert -- William Karlsson -- Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell -- Lukas Sedlak - Sam Gagner
Zach Werenski -- Seth Jones
Jack Johnson -- David Savard
Markus Nutivaara -- Ryan Murray
Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney
Scratched: Scott Harrington, Dalton Prout
Injured:David Clarkson (lower body)

Status report

Liles skated Tuesday with the Bruins for the first time since his injury, which has kept him out the past 14 games. He started skating on his own prior to Christmas. He has not been cleared for practice and his return to the lineup is unknown. "It's tough to put a timetable on it," he said.

Who's hot

Krug has four assists in two games and 12 in his past 15. … Atkinson has seven goals and 14 points in a nine-game point streak. Gagner has six goals and 13 points in his past nine games. Saad has seven goals and four assists in his past 11. Dubinsky has five assists in four games. Wennberg has seven assists in six games. Bobrovsky has allowed 14 goals in winning his past 10 starts.