Brandon Carlo is out of the lineup for maintenance, but is expected to return Saturday as the Bruins start their playoff run.
The Boston Bruins will close out the regular season Tuesday as they host the Ottawa Senators for a 7 p.m. puck drop Tuesday at TD Garden.
Boston and Ottawa last faced off March 19, and the B’s won 6-2. David Pastrnak had a hat trick, Justin Brazeau scored twice and Jesper Boqvist potted a goal in that game.
“The habits and details that we think are very important starting Saturday,” Bruins coach Jim Montomgery said Tuesday of what he wants to see from his team. “I think we’ve talked about it as a group internally ad nauseam about what we need to be about, how we need to look on the ice, and that’s what we’re looking for tonight.”
The Bruins are on the second leg of a back-to-back, and fell 2-0 to the Washington Capitals Monday night at Capital One Arena. Boston lacked a sense of urgency against the desperate wild-card team, and struggled sustaining offensive zone pressure. Jeremy Swayman, however, was sharp with 24 saves.
The Bruins announced Tuesday that they recalled forward Jayson Megna from AHL Providence, and loaned Johnny Beecher to Providence. Megna has skated in 67 games with Providence this season and logged 51 points (18 goals, 33 assists).
“[Megna] has had a really good year, but in the last two months has really caught fire and been consistently really good down there,” Montgomery said. “We’ve looked at a lot of players throughout the year, and this was just an opportunity for us to look at him.”
Megna will slot into the lineup against the Senators, with Beecher drawing out. However, Montgomery said Beecher is “absolutely” still an option for the playoffs.
Brandon Carlo left Monday’s matchup around five minutes into the third period with an apparent injury, however it was unclear when it occurred. He missed the rest of the game and will sit out Tuesday, but just for maintenance Montgomery said. Carlo will be ready for Saturday.
Pat Maroon, who made his Bruins debut this weekend, will be out of the lineup for maintenance as he works back to a regular workload after returning from injury.
Mar 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) and Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) battle after a face off during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsWith those absences, Matt Grzelcyk and James van Riemsdyk will both be in, Montgomery said.
Linus Ullmark will get the start against the Senators. The goaltender has a 2.59 goals against average and .916 save percentage through 39 games. Ullmark last played Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins and made 32 saves in the 6-4 win.
Five things to know about Ottawa:
- The Senators are coming off a 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers Monday night at Madison Square Garden in which they fell to a 36-41-4 record. Ottawa ranks 26th in the league with 76 points, and are out of the playoff picture.
- Brady Tkachuk leads the Senators with 73 points (37 goals, 36 assists) through 80 games. The captain is on the first line with Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson, and has six points in the last five games. Tkachuk spent the 2017-18 season with the Boston University Terriers.
- The Senators’ power play percentage ranks 23rd in the league at 18.2. Tkachuk leads the team with 12 power play goals. Ottawa’s 75.3 penalty kill percentage sits 28th in the league.
- Anton Forsberg is expected to get the start against the Bruins. The goaltender has a 3.30 GAA and .886 SV% through 29 games. Forsberg last played Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and made 26 saves in the 3-2 shootout win.
- Jakob Chychrun leads defensemen with 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) through 81 games. He’s on the second pair with Jacob Bernard-Docker, as well as the second power play unit and.