Game Day Preview: Bruins vs. Stars
Share
The Boston Bruins need a spark from someone other than Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak or Jaroslav Halak. Bruce Cassidy is doing all he can with the lineup he has to try and get that spark.
So, following a 1-0 loss to the Predators where they only tallied six third period shots, we’ll see some changes tonight with the second and third lines as the Black and Gold begin their four-game homestand Monday night against former teammates Tyler Seguin, Anton Khudobin and the rest of the Dallas Stars.
The D pairings and the first and fourth lines are the only carryovers from Saturday’s setback in Nashville. Joakim Nordstrom moves up to the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, while Danton Heinen moves down to the third line with David Backes and Anders Bjork.
And yes, even with Halak’s hot hand, Tuukka Rask will get his first start in eight days. Rask will likely get another start during a busy seven-day stretch at TD Garden as the veteran hopes to overcome another shaky October where he managed a 3.15 GAA and .902 SV%. A good start against his former backup would be a much-needed step forward for an up and down Bruins team and the former Vezina Winner.
Gametime: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins 7-4-2 (16 points), Stars 8-5-0 (16 points)
Location: TD Garden
Bruins projected lines
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Joakim Nordstrom-David Krejci-Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen-David Backes-Anders Bjork
Chris Wagner-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-John Moore
Steven Kampfer-Jeremy Lauzon
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Stars projected lines
Devin Shore-Tyler Seguin-Mattias Janmark
Jamie Benn-Jason Spezza-Valeri Nichushkin
Blake Comeau-Radek Faska-Tyler Pitlick
Gemel Smith-Jason Dickinson-Justin Dowlin
Esa Lidell-John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen-Roman Polak
Dillon Heatherington-Julius Honka
Anton Khudobin
Ben Bishop
Bruins-Stars storylines
– Matt Grzelcyk is making progress since sustaining a lower-body injury against the Canadiens on Oct. 27. The former Boston University standout a game-time decision according to Cassidy. The recently promoted Anton Blidh serves as the 13th forward following his trip up I-95.
– So much for that pipe dream of Seguin returning to Boston in the off-season, and why would he? After all, he has nine points (five goals, four assists) in ten games — including an overtime winner the last time these two squads met in Boston — against the team that drafted him second overall in 2010. Khudboin also has quite the history against the Bruins, albeit brief. The Russian is 1-0-1 with a 1.39 GAA and .940 SV% in two starts against his former team. The last thing the Bruins want to hear tonight is an old Bob Lobel cliche…” hey, why can’t we get guys like that?”