BOSTON -- The Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, both trying to force their way back into the NHL playoffs, both scored important victories Thursday night.
Saturday, the 2011 Stanley Cup finalists meet for a TD Garden matinee.
The Canucks, who missed the playoffs last season, rode Ryan Miller to a 3-0 shutout win at Columbus on Thursday and moved to six points out of the Western Conference wild card. The win, ended a four-game losing streak.
The Bruins, meanwhile, played -- and won -- their first game under interim coach Bruce Cassidy to move past the Philadelphia Flyers into the second Eastern Conference wild card spot.