Justin Brazeau will make his NHL debut Monday afternoon as the Boston Bruins face the Dallas Stars at TD Garden.
The Boston Bruins will close out their seven-game homestand Monday afternoon as they host the Dallas Stars for a 1 p.m. puck drop at TD Garden.
Justin Brazeau, who was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with an annual cap hit of $775,000 Monday, will make his NHL debut. The 26-year-old will slot in for Jakub Lauko on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Anthony Richard.
Brazeau has played 49 games with AHL Providence this season, logging 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists). Standing at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, the Bruins will look for Brazeau to add some size and grit to their forward group.
“Someone who all year has made his linemates better…He’s a puck possession guy, he’s heavy down low, so he fits what we’re kind of looking for to add to the bottom six,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said of Brazeau Monday.
“It’s an opportunity for him – he’s been a great player down in the AHL, and we want to see if that’s going to translate to the NHL.”
Brazeau is joining a Boston team that has hit a slump as of late. The B’s are on a four-game losing streak and have dropped five of their last six contests on home ice. They’ll look to get back in the win column before leaving for a four-game road trip.
“The last three games, we were playing to our identity. If we keep playing to our identity and the process gets a little better, the results are going to come,” Montgomery said Sunday. “I don’t think I’m as worried as maybe the outside people are, because I see a good brand of hockey.
Beyond Brazeau’s addition, the Bruins lineup is expected to look the same – with Kevin Shattenkirk remaining in for Parker Wotherspoon on the third defensive pair.
Jeremy Swayman – who has a 2.38 goals against average and .921 saver percentage through 30 games – will get the start against Dallas.
Boston Bruins projected lineup, based on Sunday’s practice:
Jake DeBrusk-Pavel Zacha-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-Danton Heinen
James van Riemsdyk-Morgan Geekie-Trent Frederic
Anthonty Richard-Jesper Boqvist-Justin Brazeau
Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort-Kevin Shattenkirk
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
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