Tonight the first real test of the Bruins within their own division takes place at the Garden. Tampa Bay enters tonight with a record of 3-2-1 after playing only one game at home so far. The Bruins are at the end of a three-game homestand.
David Krejci was confirmed to be out tonight after this morning’s skate. Charlie Coyle will be centering teh second line in his stead with birthday Boy Jake DeBrusk on his left and Brett Ritchie on his right. That seems like a curious choice but I guess that Cassidy wants Coyle and Ritchie to continue to build some chemistry or for that second line to impose it’s will with size. Cassidy did state that he expects his lines “to be fluid”.
Celebrate @JDebrusk's birthday by putting your knowledge to the test with birthday trivia: https://t.co/8hQahN7SqX 🎉 pic.twitter.com/3CLPS7leRs
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 17, 2019
After sitting Monday’s game, Connor Clifton is back in the defense pairings. Cassidy gave his reasoning for sitting Cliffy and playing Steven Kampfer.
“I felt Cliff’s had good moments and average moments, kind of like Steve,” said Cassidy. “I said, ‘You need to continue to grow.’ And I think his practice habits weren’t good enough either, to be honest with you. He was behind. A little bit of it is, ‘Are you taking this for granted? If you are, you shouldn’t be.’
“And some of it was rewarding Steve for practicing well and playing well when he’s gone into games. We wanted to keep him sharp. It was both sides of it. That was the message to him. I’m sure Cliffy will play hard tonight.”
Last season, Tampa dominated the season series in 2018-19 3-1. Hopefully the Bruins will win this series this season.
LINES
Bruins Forwards:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Coyle – Ritchie
Heinen – Lindholm – Kuhlman
Nordstrom – Kuraly – Wagner
Bruins Defense:
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Clifton
Bruins Goaltenders:
Rask
Halak
Lightning Forwards:
Stamkos – Point – Kucherov
Killorn – Cirelli – Joseph
Palat – Johnson – Gourde
Maroon – Verhaeghe – Witkowski
Lightning Defense:
Hedman – Cernak
McDonagh – Shattenkirk
Coburn – Sergachev
Lightning Goaltenders:
Vasilevskiy
McElhinney
Oh well. Great game!
Point still taking shots at Marchand while the linesman is separating them. Not sure why he was even in that scrum.
Cirelli grabbed Marchand’s wrist before that headlock, sounds like the officials missed that.
All good. No time!
Wow!!! Pasta!!
Here we go! Need a big third!!
This power play would be better if they played less of it in front of Tuukka
Bad turnover by DeBrusk. Too fancyitis!
Exactly!!
Bergy!!!
I love that they play the Stooges “be your dog” at the Garden.
That Iggy Pop — such I nice man. He wants to be my dog!
It’s like they were trying to give the Bolts some scoring opportunities that last minute.