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Bruins hope to keep rolling against Blues

Dec 21, 2008 - 8:17 AM Boston (23-5-4) at St. Louis (13-16-3), 6:00 p.m. EST

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Despite a rash of recent injuries, the Boston Bruins have made it loud and clear that they are an elite team in the Eastern Conference.

Seeking their fifth straight win and 10th in 11 tries, the Bruins visit the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

Boston is enjoying their fifth winning stretch of three contests or more this season but will likely be without Patrice Bergeron, who was the victim of an open-ice collision with the Carolina's Dennis Seidenberg in a 4-2 victory on Saturday.

Marco Sturm was also placed on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury that will keep him out at least 30 days.

David Krejci scored a tie-breaking goal in the third period, two nights after notching his first career hat trick in the Bruins' 8-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Boston has been propelled by Phil Kessel, who has 14 goals and 12 assists during a 17-game point streak. That marks the longest stretch in team history since Adam Oates' 20-game run in 1997-98.

St. Louis, meanwhile, snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.

David Backes scored for the fourth straight game, and has seven in his last 11. He had six tallies in his previous 28 games.

After missing five games with a concussion, Manny Legace returned to the lineup against the Wild and made 24 saves for the Blues, who are 3-6-1 in December.