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GAME: Pittsburgh Penguins (10-23-5-3) at Boston Bruins (16-11-10-4).

After an awful December, the Boston Bruins have jumped into 2004 feet first.

After beating some of the NHL's elite teams, the surging Bruins will look to avoid a letdown when the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins come to FleetCenter.

After going 3-7-5 in December, the Bruins are 2-0-1 in January, topping Northeast Division-leading Toronto and Central Division-leading Detroit, while tying the playoff-hopeful New York Islanders.

On Wednesday, Andrew Raycroft made 36 saves to record his second career shutout as the Bruins defeated Detroit 3-0, ending the Red Wings' four-game winning streak and 12-game home unbeaten streak.

Raycroft made 36 saves and Joe Thornton, Travis Green and Mike Knuble each scored for Boston, which was outshot 13-3 in the first period and didn't register a shot until 9:45 had elapsed.

"Andrew held us in there the first 10 minutes, I think he was a big factor in the win," Knuble said. "All night, but especially in the first 10 minutes. The game could have been, we could have been in a real hole there. He gave us a chance to win."

A day after learning captain and owner Mario Lemieux would miss the rest of the season because of a hip injury, the Penguins recorded one of their most surprising wins of the season, 4-2 over New Jersey on Wednesday.

Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 31 saves for the Penguins, who won for just the third time on the road.

Mike Eastwood, Ryan Malone and Eric Meloche scored as Pittsburgh won for the first time away from Mellon Arena since Nov. 14 at Buffalo. The Penguins also snapped a four-game losing streak.

"We needed any type of win," coach Eddie Olczyk said. "When you play as hard as you can against the defending Stanley Cup champions, it makes it that much better."