BOSTON — You won’t see Marcel Dionne or even Dave Taylor going head to head with the Boston Bruins tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.

There might just a handful of Los Angeles players whose names you recognize. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to take the Kings lightly. Although their playoff chances are fading fast, this Kings team plays with such structure and grit that it can beat anyone. Think of them as the hard-working New York Islanders, but with talent.

Playing near Hollywood, even the Kings’ stars fly under the radar. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Alexander Frolov aren’t exactly walking the red carpet everywhere they go. But they’re the Kings’ top three scorers and are the foundation of a team that’s on the precipice, after years in the doldrums, of becoming a contender.

Two hard days of practice and time away from actual competition might’ve just been what the doctor ordered for the Bruins, who had played eight games in 13 days before their day off Monday. But their talk about turning this thing around has become as common as Jon Stewart’s criticism of MSNBC. As we’ve heard some around the team say in the past, talk is cheap.

The Bruins have to send a message with their actions, and it’ll start by not letting the youthful Kings get any confidence that they can take down the Eastern Conference’s top team. Boston has to come out hard early and put the Kings on the defensive, while also avoiding the needless penalties they took in Pittsburgh Sunday.

Season series: This is the first and only meeting of the year between Boston and Los Angeles. Those Bruins who were on the team the last time the Kings visited Boston, and they are few and far between, will never forget the 6-0 shellacking the Kings handed the Bruins Jan. 12, 2006. The Bruins beat LA last season, 8-6, behind a Phil Kessel hat trick.

What they’re writing: The Royal Road Report talks about the Kings playing every game like a playoff game. Neither the LA Daily News or LA Times has a story today online. Oh well.

Los Angeles player to watch: He’s not the biggest name on the Kings by a longshot, and his 3-8-11 totals and minus-13 rating probably make him more likely a player you won’t notice. But former Boston College star Peter Harrold has emerged as a full-time, legit NHLer this season — and the former Eagles blueliner has done it at forward. At times he’s plugged in at wing alongside Frolov and center Jarrett Stoll. He can also move back and help out on defense. He might not be the flashiest player going, but as much as the Kings need their stars like Brown and Kopitar to continue to blossom, they’ll also need their role players like Harrold to develop.