The Bruins will remain without middle-six winger Craig Smith for their two-game road trip with stops in Florida and Carolina, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed following Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
“He’s not going to travel,” Cassidy revealed. “He wasn’t feeling great [Tuesday], so we’re going to leave him off playing in the back-to-back and hopefully get him ready for Saturday.”
Smith’s upcoming absence will make it three straight games for the Wisconsin native, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury, which first popped up following last week’s loss in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Smith has nine shots on goal through three games this season, and will stay with Nick Foligno (upper body) and Anton Blidh (upper body) on the shelf.
With Smith unavailable, the Bruins have put Tomas Nosek with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle on Boston’s second line, and with Oskar Steen skating as the third-line right wing with Jake DeBrusk and Erik Haula.
Coyle has served as Smith’s direct replacement on the second line, too, moving from center to right wing.
The Bruins have wins in three of four games this year, and will look to deliver the Panthers their first loss of the season.
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