Sizzling Bruins host Red Wings in showdown at the Garden

Hockey Betting Lines

11/29/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins will try to close out an excellent month with yet another victory, as they host the Detroit Red Wings in this evening's showdown at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Bruins are 10-1-1 in November and are coming off a blowout victory in Friday afternoon's home tilt against the New York Islanders. Boston's hot play has the club atop the Northeast Division with 34 points.

On Friday, Blake Wheeler and David Krejci scored 10 seconds apart to jump-start Boston's five-goal third period, as the Bruins captured their eighth straight home win with a 7-2 triumph over the Islanders.

Michael Ryder finished with a pair of goals for Boston, while Phil Kessel and Dennis Wideman each chipped in a goal and an assist in the victory. The Bruins bounced back from Wednesday's 3-2 loss at Buffalo, which handed Boston its first regulation loss in November.

Chuck Kobasew added a goal and Manny Fernandez made 22 saves to win his fifth straight start for Boston, which is 8-1-1 at home this season. Marc Savard and Matt Hunwick each notched a pair of assists for the Bruins.

Kessel comes into tonight's test on an eight-game point streak, while Hunwick has recorded a point in his last six tests.

Tim Thomas, the NHL's leader in goals against average (1.88) and save percentage (.940), will likely be back in goal for the Bruins tonight.

Boston is aiming for its ninth straight home win tonight as it tries to extend the club's longest home winning streak since taking 11 in a row on friendly ice from December 5, 1982 to January 29, 1983.

Meanwhile, the Red Wings ended a two-game skid their last time out, posting Friday's 5-3 win over visiting Columbus. Marian Hossa's second goal of the game came with two minutes left to lead Detroit the victory at Joe Louis Arena.

With time winding down in the third period, Detroit took a 4-3 lead. A left circle faceoff draw was won by Pavel Datsyuk. The puck went to the right side where Hossa poked it forward, then kicked the puck from his skate to his stick and swept a shot from the low left side past Pascal Leclaire with two minutes left.

From there the Red Wings held off the Blue Jackets and Kris Draper's empty- netter sealed the victory.

Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and an assist while Jiri Hudler also lit the lamp for the Red Wings, who have won six of eight and are 8-1-2 in November.

Chris Osgood made 13 stops and gave up a goal on a slap shot from mid-ice. However, he made enough saves to record the 372nd win of his career and tie Andy Moog for 13th on the league's all-time list.

Detroit has an excellent 10-1-2 record as the visiting team this year, but had a four-game road winning streak halted in Monday's overtime loss at Vancouver.

On the injury front, Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom is expected to miss his sixth straight game with a sore back. The 35-year-old Swede has seven goals and six assists in 17 games this season.

The Bruins have won four of the last six meetings with the Red Wings, but Detroit has won three of four and eight of 11 in Boston.

This is the only meeting of the season between these Original Six franchises.