Hughes, 26, joins a team that was already on a hot streak and is looking for its fourth win in a row. Minnesota improved to 13-2-2 in its last 17 games following a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm told the Globe’s Jim McBride he considers Hughes one of the game’s elite defensive players.
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“You just got to make sure you are always aware when [Hughes] is on the ice, but I think it will fit our style, too, we want to play hard against him, don’t give him that room and try to keep him off the special teams, off the power play, too.”
Here’s a preview.
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul
TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Minnesota -140. O/U: 6.0.
BRUINS
Season record: 19-13-0. vs. spread: 24-8. Over/under: 18-14
Last 10 games: 7-3-0. vs. spread: 8-2. Over/under: 5-5
WILD
Season record: 18-9-5. vs. spread: 18-14. Over/under: 13-18, 1 push
Last 10 games: 7-2-1. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 2-7, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 105, Minnesota 90
Goals allowed: Boston 99, Minnesota 84
Power play: Boston 26.1%, Minnesota 21.8%
Penalty minutes: Boston 392, Minnesota 233
Penalty kill: Boston 82.2%, Minnesota 77.9%
Faceoffs won: Boston 51.6%, Minnesota 46.8%
Stat of the day: The Bruins have outscored opponents 20-8 during their four-game win streak, including a 6-3 victory on the road against the Jets on Thursday.
Notes: The Wild gave up three highly touted young players and a 2026 first-round pick in the trade for Hughes on Friday. … David Pastrnak leads Boston with 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 27 games. Morgan Geekie is second with 35 points (22 goals, 13 assists), and Pavel Zacha has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists). … Bruins coach Marco Sturm said his players would need to be focused for a tough road game. “They made a pretty aggressive trade [Friday] night, so we just have to make sure we’re going to be ready to go,” Sturm said. “Because that building will be buzzing.” … Boston likely will turn to Jeremy Swayman in goal. He is 13-7-0 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage this season, and he is 1-3-0 with a 1.78 GAA and a .942 save percentage in four career games against the Wild. … Minnesota is expected to counter with Filip Gustavsson in net one day after fellow goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made the start against Ottawa. Gustavsson is 9-8-3 with a 2.64 GAA and a .907 save percentage this season, and he is 1-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and a .938 save percentage in two career games against the Bruins. … Hughes is set to become a free agent after the end of next season. … The Bruins open a five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth.
Information from Field Level Media and Stats, Inc., was used in this report.
Boston Globe Sports Report host Ben Volin chats with the former Bruins goaltender.
Matt Pepin can be reached at [email protected].
