This time it’s Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy, two of the three players this 2017-18 team has built its defensive identity around. At least Bruce Cassidy has the experience from the early season injury bug and some recently acquired depth to help him navigate now. Taking things one day at a time pushed the ailing Bruins through before, and that’ll be key again.
Looking at the rest of the season through that lens, Tuesday’s opponent is one of the few in the league Bergeron and McAvoy might not be absolutely crucial in taking down. The Red Wings are hungry coming off three straight losses, but the Atlantic Division’s fifth-place team has been seriously lacking offensive firepower.