Bruins center Riley Nash (head) is likely to return for Game 3 between the B’s and Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on Monday night. He appears fully recovered from a head laceration and concussion symptoms suffered late in the regular season.
Nash skated in his usual spot at center on the third line between left wing Danton Heinen and right wing David Backes. Noel Acciari, who centered the third line in the first two games of the series, slid back down to his usual role as the fourth-line right winger. On defense, Nick Holden skated in place of Matt Grzelcyk, who is likely out on Monday night.
#NHLBruins morning rushes:
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 16, 2018
Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Rick Nash
Heinen - Riley Nash - Backes
Schaller - Kuraly - Acciari
(Donato - Gionta - Wingels)
Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Miller
Holden - McQuaid
Rask
Khudobin
Bruce Cassidy told reporters after practice that the Bruins are planning on Riley Nash playing. The head coach added that he’s not ruling Grzelcyk out, but the defenseman is “doubtful” with a lower-body injury. In addition, Tommy Wingels is “healthy enough to play” but likely to sit in favor of Heinen.
On the Maple Leafs’ side, they appear to be moving center Tomas Plekanec up to the second line between Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner. Leo Komarov is out for the Leafs on Monday; the forward was knocked out of Game 2 after taking a big hit from the Bruins’ Kevan Miller. Here are the full forward groups from Monday’s skate, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston on Twitter:
Tomas Plekanec gets bumped up in new #leafs lines:
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 16, 2018
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Plekanec-Marner
JVR-Bozak-Brown
Johnsson-Moore-Kapanen
The Bruins and Maple Leafs drop the puck at 7:00 p.m. You can listen to the game live on 98.5 the Sports Hub, starting with pregame coverage at 6:30.
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