Bruins have more clarity on their many injury situations
The Boston Bruins continue to work through the attrition of the injury bug, and they’re still going to feel it for the next two games.
Winger David Pastrnak and defenseman Hampus Lindholm both remain out of the lineup for the B’s and won’t travel for their upcoming two-game road trip, in St. Louis on Tuesday and Pittsburgh on Thursday. Same goes for goaltender Linus Ullmark. Troy Grosenick will travel with the team as the fill-in backup behind Jeremy Swayman in goal. Additionally, forward Jesper Froden suffered a lower-body injury late in the Bruins’ win over the Penguins last Saturday and won’t travel.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy remarked, “hopefully by the weekend,” when asked about Ullmark’s availability later in the week. On Pastrnak and Lindholm, Cassidy said they should both be ready to return by the week before the playoffs, which starts Sunday, April 24 in Montreal. Cassidy isn’t ruling out a possible return for Pastrnak and/or Lindholm on Saturday, when they face the New York Rangers at TD Garden.
Patrice Bergeron didn’t skate for the Bruins at Monday’s practice, but Cassidy confirmed that it’s just a maintenance day for the 36-year-old.
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There’s only one expected change in the Bruins’ forward group on Tuesday night against the Blues, based on the Prax lines:
Marchand-Studnicka-DeBrusk
Hall-Haula-Lazar
Frederic-Coyle-Smith
Foligno-Nosek-McLaughlin
Blidh
Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Reilly-Carlo
Forbort-Clifton
Ahcan-Brown
Swayman
Grosenick
The Bruins and Blues face off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday night. You can get the call of the game on 98.5 The Sports Hub, starting with pregame coverage at 7:30.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
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The Bruins are desperate for something to bounce their way
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 14: Jesper Froden #38 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with Matt Grzelcyk #48 after scoring his first NHL goal during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Jesper Froden gets on the board
Given the chance to ride to the right of Erik Haula and Taylor Hall on Thursday night, Jesper Froden rewarded the Bruins’ decision to go with him over Oskar Steen by getting on the board with his first career goal.
“It was fun to get the first one,” Froden said. “I tried to stay in front of the net, battle for the puck and then I just lost my glove. I was thinking, ‘Should I change or should I stay?’ Then I saw that [Grzelcyk] got the puck and I was trying to be in the lane and tip the puck there and see it went in. It’s an amazing feeling.”
The 5-foot-10 Froden is now up to one goal, seven hits, five blocks, and nine shots in six NHL games. Not the worst start, to say the least, and it may be worth seeing if Froden can keep it rolling with an extended look.
“That’s what you want: You want to play in the NHL,” Froden said. “It’s always fun to get the call up and try to help the team to win games. That’s what it’s all about.”
Apr 14, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Marc McLaughlin (26) reacts after scoring a goal during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)
McLaughlin’s move to center comes with promising results
Another positive from a downer of a night? Marc McLaughlin’s move to his natural center position and its results.
Slotted between Nick Foligno and Curtis Lazar following Tomas Nosek’s promotion to the third line, the McLaughlin line gave the Bruins a definite boost, and even opened the game’s scoring up with the Billerica, Mass. native’s third goal in as many home games this season.
“I thought McLaughlin’s line was excellent [and] played to their strength below the goal line,” Cassidy said. “To me, he doesn’t have to worry about his position when you have the puck in their end and you’re playing down low.”
Deployed for 6:57 of five-on-five time together, the Foligno-McLaughlin-Lazar line held an on-ice advantage in shots (7-2), scoring chances (8-3), high-danger chances (3-1), and goals (1-0).
The next step for the Bruins may be mixing McLaughlin into their special teams units. By now, we know he has an offensive touch and can score in a variety of ways, and the ex-Boston College captain was a two-way standout in college, so mixing him in on the penalty kill shouldn’t be considered out of the question.
Apr 14, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) controls the puck behind Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during the first period at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)
The Junk Drawer
- In case you’re wondering, Chris Hemhauser would’ve been on deck as the emergency goaltender had Jeremy Swayman also had to leave the game for the Bruins. Hemhauser played at Assumption College from 2012-2016. Based on
In case you're wondering, the emergency goalie for the Bruins would be Chris Hemhauser. Played at Assumption College from 2012-2016.
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 15, 2022">the replies to my tweet on this, I feel like I gotta see how Hemhauser attacks pucks with his head. - You may have noticed that Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron sported some blood on his jersey before the game even started. Bergeron caught a puck in the face during the pregame warmup.
- With Thursday’s loss, the Bruins have suffered three straight regulation losses since Dec. 2019. It’s actually the first time they’ve suffered a three-game losing streak of any sort since an 0-1-2 run from Dec. 31, 2019 through Jan. 4, 2020. The latter date also marked Tom Brady’s final game with the Patriots, in case you’re into misery.
- Thursday marked the eighth time that the Bruins have suffered a regulation loss while landing at least 40 shots on goal by the night’s end this season. That’s tied with the Flames for the second-most losses on that front. The Golden Knights lead the league in this stat, with 10 regulation losses with at least 40 shots on goal.
- Random Senator: Jarkko Ruutu.
- Love these Ottawa uniforms. Especially the road whites.
- In case you’re wondering, Chris Hemhauser would’ve been on deck as the emergency goaltender had Jeremy Swayman also had to leave the game for the Bruins. Hemhauser played at Assumption College from 2012-2016. Based on
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