It looks like Bruce Cassidy has decided to change things up. This is a good idea.
Given that the team has scored a whole 2 goals in 2 games in the bubble, it’s time to try something new. Now that trade dealine acquisitions and former Ducks’ teammates Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie are back at practice and cleared to play, let’s see if they can do something to get the B’s on the scoreboard.
#NHLBruins practice lines:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Ritchie – Krejci – Kuhlman/Kase
Bjork – Coyle – DeBrusk
Nordstrom – Kuraly/Lindholm – WagnerChara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Lauzon
Moore – CliftonRask
Halak pic.twitter.com/HZ1oLK1Vk1— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 4, 2020
With Kase back in, that means young gun Jack Studnicka is out for the time being. It’s a shame because David Krejci took a shine to the kid but it’s clear that he needs a little more seasoning. Hopefully, Kase won’t need much time to get back up to speed, even if we have no good idea of what that speed is. Still, if Cassidy thinks that Kase isn’t good to go later today (4pm EDT, 9pm GMT+1), Karson Kuhlman will take over that spot for the game against Tampa.
Jake DeBrusk has not only been demoted a line, he’s been switched again to his off-side. It’ll be interesting to see if he stays in that spot or switches back to his natural side with Anders Bjork taking over the right wing. Interesting tidbit about DeBrusk: in his My Story on NESN, he stated that he wanted to be just like his dad, Louie DeBrusk, so he switched his shot to be a left shot. So, Jake is like a stealth right shot.
Down on the fourth line, either Par Lindholm or Sean Kuraly will play center. Given that Kuraly was downgraded from 3RW to 4C after the exhibition game, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him sit. However, he was also on the ice for the lone goal against the Flyers while not playing a direct part in its scoring and he didn’t do anything too egregious to be scratched for today. If Cassidy wants to try something fresh, Lindholm might start today.
Steven Stamkos has been ruled out for the @TBLightning‘s round-robin game vs. the @NHLBruins on Wednesday.https://t.co/WIywmC3K8O
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 4, 2020
Noted Bruins killer Steven Stamkos will not play today in the round robin game between the Bruins and Lightning. Stamkos has been nursing a lower body injury that he incurred in Phase 2 voluntary workouts. Before that, he last played on February 25th when he sustained a core muscle injury.
Todays game against the Tampa Bay Lightning will be at 4pm on NESN and NHL.tv.
Tough loss but that was like watching a completely different team to the first two games. Some odd results in the qualifiers so seeding might not count for much.
Bring on the next one!
Bruin: No look backward pass in the low slot
Me:
Superb save. That would’ve taken the wind out of Bs sails.
Wonder if they have a dentist in the bubble!
Whassa “dentist”?
And that is follow through!
This was a promising-looking faceoff sequence!
We’re still in this. It’s certainly thee most enjoyable game in Toronto so far!
We’re outshooting them, outhitting them and winning more faceoffs. This is a decent performance.
Oooh that was unlucky!
Point is not being smart here.
This is already the best they’ve looked so far.
Agreed.
…and Brayden Point scores…
But that first PK unit was great. Need to be more edangerous in the offensive zone.
Yup, I cursed them there!
Long way to go yet though. That was a scruffy goal.