The Bruins have been getting in the habit of taking the first punch in recent games.

If they do that on Thursday at the Garden, they may not get up off the mat.

The high-flying Edmonton Oilers and their two-headed monster of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl make their annual visit to Causeway Street on Thursday and, after their typical slow start, they are starting to roll. The Oilers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and are coming off a victory in Pittsburgh on Tuesday in which Draisaitl notched his 1,000th point.

The Oilers have their flaws, of course. They are allowing the same 3.41 goals per game as they are scoring, something they hope that newly acquired goalie Tristan Jarry can help with a little bit. But slowing down the offensive machine will be a challenge for the B’s and coach Marco Sturm’s system. Staying out the box, something with which the B’s have had issues this year, will be imperative.

The B’s have allowed the first goal in their last four games but have won three of those games. The one they lost was in Minnesota last Sunday when they got pummeled, 6-2. Like the Wild, the Oilers are a team that can start running downhill on you if you give them a chance.

“I’ve seen them way too many times with LA so I know them very well. Unfortunately right now, they’re on a little bit of a hot streak. I wish we played them two or three weeks ago when they were struggling,” said Sturm with a smile. “But right now, they’re the same old Oilers I remember them as and you guys do, too. They’re very streaky right now. They’re very hot. McDavid, Draisaitl, those guys drive the bus. We’re going to have our hands full (Thursday). We talked about the power play and those are big moments. We’ve got to play them 5-on-5 and don’t give them too much room out there.”

With 6-8-14 totals in his last five games, McDavid is now just two points back of Nathan MacKinnon for the league-lead in points. Draisaitl, meanwhile, is coming off his milestone night, posting a four-assist night in Pittsburgh.

Players like Pavel Zacha, whose line has been drawing the heavy assignments, will be called upon to contain one, either or both of them. He’s looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s a big motivation, when you’re playing against the top players, especially the situations I’m put in, to be playing against top players as a centerman. It’s exciting,” said Zacha. “And then you’re playing against one of the top players. It’s similar to when you’re playing Colorado with MacKinnon. They’re very fast guys and the best players in the league. It’s something you’re excited for if you’re a defensive player, to see if you can keep them away form the chances. It’s great. I’m happy we get the chance to play against them and show our best hockey hopefully.”

Defense depth

Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok, claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, arrived in Boston in time for him to participate in his first Bruin practice on Wednesday at the Garden. He was sporting Jake DeBrusk’s old No. 74.

“We needed some extra help. We’re running really thin right now and we didn’t want to get in any trouble. We’re one injury away so we felt like he will be a good addition to our D group,” said Sturm. “(Don Sweeney) and his staff have been scouting him for the last little bit. He seems like a good kid.”

Kolyachonok scored a pretty goal for the Mammoth last season against the Bruins.

“He has a little bit of everything I feel. He has a little bit of offense, he can defend. I think he played some PK as well. We look at him as a depth guy and hopefully, he’s going to get a chance, too. I don’t know when but we’re happy to have an extra body,” said Sturm.

The B’s were down to six healthy defensemen. The injured D-men Jonathan Aspirot, Henri Jokiharju, Michael Callahan and Jordan Harris were all seen skating on Tuesday, but Sturm said that no one’s return was imminent.

This is the fourth organization that Kolyachonok has been with in the last year. He started last season in Utah, went to Pittsburgh and was traded to Dallas in the offseason.

“It’s hockey. It’s a business, right? Not everything can you control but I always try to do my best and stay with it,” said the 2019 second-round pick of Florida.

Loose pucks

Tanner Jeannot missed practice on Wednesday because of illness and Sturm said his status for Thursday will be determined. … Trent Frederic, traded to the Oilers just before the deadline last season, will make his return to the Garden. In the offseason, he was signed to an eye-popping deal for eight years at $3.85 million per season. A well-liked member of the B’s, Frederic is playing mostly fourth-line minutes and has just two goals and one assist in 34 games.