Bruins Game Day Preview: Ducks Looking to Hand Injury-Hampered Bruins First Loss in Quick Rematch

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Boston Bruins return to TD Garden after a four-game road trip to take on the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. ET. The Bruins defeated the Ducks 3-1 just four days ago at the end of their west coast swing, and will look to double down on Thursday to remain undefeated.

With injuries to Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko, here is how the Bruins lined up on Thursday morning:

Brad Marchand - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - Matt Poitras - Morgan Geekie

James van Riemsdyk - Charlie Coyle - Trent Frederic

Danton Heinen - Johnny Beecher - Patrick Brown

Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort - Kevin Shattenkirk

Linus Ullmark

Jeremy Swayman

Heinen is still on a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) and awaiting a contract. The Bruins currently have just 11 active forwards but will make a roster move before Thursday’s game, according to Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

“No news on Danton Heinen,” Montgomery said Thursday. “We got to do a couple of discussions. I don’t have any news for you yet, but there will be a transaction.”

Defenseman Ian Mitchell, who made the opening night roster as the seventh defenseman, was placed on waivers for purpose of assignment to AHL Providence on Wednesday, likely to make room for a 12th forward. However, Boston risks losing Mitchell to another team if he gets claimed.

(Update: Mitchell cleared waivers and will report to AHL Providence)

As management works out the roster kinks, the rest of the team is preparing for the rematch with a Ducks team that is not being taken lightly.

“Their record’s 2-4, but within the game [on Sunday] and the games they’ve played, they’ve been the better team the majority of the games,” Montgomery said. “Their record doesn’t indicate how well they’re playing, and we need to be ready.”

Both Montgomery and Bruins captain Brad Marchand said Anaheim’s physical play style under new coach Greg Cronin “surprised” them.

“They competed very hard,” Marchand said on Thursday. “They were much more physical than they’ve been in the past. They were being very responsible defensively. They were competing on the right side of the puck much harder than they had in the last couple years, so definitely going to be a tight game.”

Cronin was an assistant at the University of Maine in stints from 1988-1990 and 1993-1995, and he briefly overlapped with Montgomery as one of his players.

“He’s a friend and he’s someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for his hockey knowledge,” Montgomery said. “I know he helped me as a freshman when I was a player at Maine and he was a volunteer coach. He’s just someone that absolutely loves the game. He has great knowledge, he’s a great communicator, and I’m happy for him that he’s finally getting his opportunity.”