Bruins Face Sharks as McAvoy Returns in San Jose

Boston begins a four-game road trip against San Jose at SAP Center on Tuesday night, October 13, with the Bruins seeking a third consecutive victory and the Sharks looking to recover from their latest defeat. The NHL matchup is scheduled to start after 11 p.m. Eastern as part of ESPN's Frozen Frenzy coverage.

According to previews published by Sports Yahoo and Stanley Cup of Chowder, Boston enters the game with a 4-2-0 record after allowing just one goal in each of its previous two wins. San Jose stands at 3-2-0, with all three victories coming in overtime, and is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Charlie McAvoy's return strengthens Boston's defense after he served a six-game suspension stemming from his actions against the Buffalo Sabres in last season's final game. Head coach Marco Sturm plans to pair McAvoy with Hampus Lindholm, while Nikita Zadorov and Will Borgen round out the projected top four defensemen.

The game also presents a challenge for Boston against an opponent that has recently reversed the teams' historical trend. San Jose has won its last three meetings with the Bruins, including two at SAP Center, after Boston previously recorded a 14-game winning streak in the series.

San Jose's recent home record stands at 2-1-0, according to Stanley Cup of Chowder. The Sharks won twice against Boston last season, taking a 3-1 decision in San Jose and a 4-2 victory at TD Garden.

Macklin Celebrini remains the Sharks' leading offensive contributor despite missing two games with a lower-body injury. The 19-year-old captain has recorded one goal and five assists for six points in three appearances, including a goal against Edmonton on Saturday.

Celebrini opened the season with five assists across his first two games before his injury-related absence. Tyler Toffoli has added two goals and two assists for four points, while Will Smith and Igor Chernyshov have each recorded two goals and one assist, according to Stanley Cup of Chowder.

San Jose's goaltending situation could also influence the matchup. Yaroslav Askarov has a 2-2-0 record, a 3.71 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage, while Alex Nedeljkovic has won his only start with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, according to the same preview.

The Sharks selected Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg second overall in June. The 19-year-old has recorded two assists this season and increased his shots on goal from one across his first three games to four over his next two, according to Stanley Cup of Chowder.

Boston's road trip begins with the late San Jose matchup before continuing with three additional away games, each scheduled to start earlier than Tuesday's contest. ESPN is televising the game as the final matchup in its Frozen Frenzy tripleheader, following New Jersey against Detroit and Colorado against Dallas.

The Bruins and Sharks are scheduled to meet at SAP Center in San Jose, California, with coverage available on ESPN and Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub. Boston's morning skate was scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern, or 11 a.m. Pacific, ahead of the game.