The Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been two of the hotter teams in the NHL over recent weeks. Both are 7-2-1 over their last 10 games, and the visitors have played well of late coming off four consecutive wins. I think they'll struggle this afternoon though against a Penguins team that rarely loses at CONSOL Energy Center.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Situational/Motivational - The Bruins recent surge has given them a a bit of a cushion down to the Sens for the final wild card spot in the East. Tomorrow they'll travel to Washington to take on a Capitals team that sits only two points ahead of them in the standings, and I wonder if they won't prioritize that game. Pittsburgh is battling for supremacy in the Metropolitan Division, and giving up points in its own building won't cut it if it wants to make the top spot its own.

2. Home Cookin' - The Pens are an impressive 21-10-3 on home ice for the season and have won three straight in front of their home fans. Boston meanwhile is posting a losing road record of 14-12-5 and its star netminder Tuukka Rask is a lowly 9-8-5 with a 2.69 GAA over 24 road outings.

3. X-Factor - Evegni Malkin in leading the Penguins with his 28 goals on the season and is showing no signs of slowing down. He has been on fire so far in March, tallying four goals and three assists over six games and is 3+1 over the first two meetings against Boston this season.

Selection: This is a play on the Pittsburgh Penguins (8*)