Riley Nash (Head) Out For Game 1; Rick Nash, Sean Kuraly In
Riley Nash is still not practicing with the Bruins as he continues to recover from a head injury.
Noel Acciari, however, did return to practice for the B’s on Wednesday as they get ready to play the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series at TD Garden on Thursday night. He took Nash’s place on the third line, centering Danton Heinen and David Backes.
Sean Kuraly (lower-body) continued to practice, centering the fourth line with Tim Schaller and Tommy Wingels. Here are the full Bruins practice lines from Wednesday:
#NHLBruins practice lines:
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 11, 2018
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Krejci – Rick Nash
Heinen – Acciari – Backes
Schaller – Kuraly – Wingels
Donato – Gionta
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Miller
Grzelcyk – McQuaid
Holden
Rask
Khudobin
Nash suffered a laceration in the side of his head, after an errant shot by Torey Krug struck him in the ear area during the Bruins’ win over the Panthers on March 31. He’s been aiming for a Thursday return, but that remains up in the air with him continuing to miss practice.
As for Rick Nash, he continues to skate in his usual spot on the second line with David Krejci. The veteran winger enters the playoffs with high expectations and questions about how he’ll perform based on his up-and-down history.
More: Bruins-Maple Leafs Preview
With the other Nash back, that could make rookie forward Ryan Donato the odd man out for the Bruins’ Game 1 lineup. But head coach Bruce Cassidy’s comments after Tuesday’s practice suggest that the roster will be fluid as it pertains to who plays and doesn’t play.
Cassidy confirmed to reporters after Wednesday’s skate that Riley Nash is officially out for Game 1, but will skate on Thursday and could return in Game 2. Rick Nash and Kuraly will return, while Adam McQuaid will be the team’s sixth defenseman with Nick Holden sitting.
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