The Boston Bruins embark on their first road trip of the 2023-24 season. Below are the latest Bruins updates, and a few things to know about the Sharks ahead of Thursday's game.
The Boston Bruins will kick off their first road trip of the season against the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
After flying out west on Tuesday, the team practiced Wednesday and again Thursday morning in the same lineup that they last practiced with in Boston:
Jake DeBrusk - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand - Matt Poitras - Morgan Geekie
James van Riemsdyk - Charlie Coyle - Trent Frederic
Milan Lucic - Johnny Beecher - Jakub Lauko
Patrick Brown/Danton Heinen
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Kevin Shattenkirk
Ian Mitchell
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
With the forward lines shuffled from what they were to start the season, the biggest change is Matt Poitras and Morgan Geekie facing a larger role on the second line with Brad Marchand.
Additionally, Charlie Coyle slides back to the third line alongside Trent Frederic, with whom he spent extensive time playing with last season. The two were on the same line at 5-on-5 for a total of 524:16 at 5-on-5 alone, according to Natural Stat Trick. While the new faces get accustomed to each other, Coyle and Frederic should have no issue picking up where they left off last season.
“[Coyle’s] a consummate player,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters on Wednesday. “All he cares about is winning, whatever he can do to back the team to win. His game doesn’t change whether I use him Marchand or whether I’m using him with Frederic, and that’s the beauty of him. I can move him anywhere and he’s gonna help the Bruins win hockey games.”
The Sharks, meanwhile, are winless on the year through three games (0-2-1). After trading away the 2023 Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson, to Pittsburgh this offseason, the already-dim outlook for the franchise got darker in 2023-24.
Here are three things to know about the Sharks:
1. They are league favorites… for the draft lottery
According to The Hockey News’ season preview poll, the Sharks were voted most likely to have the best NHL lottery odds for the 2024 Draft. In other words, they project as one of the worst teams in the league this season.
Wins are never a given in the NHL, especially when you have to fly across the country beforehand, but with a five-day break since their last game, the Bruins are fully expected to win their third game.
2. They’ve struggled to possess the puck
Through three games, San Jose’s 5-on-5 Corsi For Percentage is 34.41, and they’ve been outshot 86-45 for a 34.35 Shots For Percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick. Both metrics rank dead-last in the NHL thus far.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he wants to see the team improve its 5-on-5 play after a special teams slugfest in Saturday’s 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators. On Thursday, they’ll have as good an opportunity as any to get better.
3. Tomas Hertl is the player to watch
The 29-year-old forward leads the team with three points – all assists – in as many games, and is one of four Sharks players who has helped San Jose produce more scoring chances than they allow at 5-on-5 while he’s on the ice (24-23).
If the Bruins can shut Hertl down, they will be in an even better position to come away with a win.