Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon is set to draw into the lineup in place of Kevin Shattenkirk on the third pair.
The Boston Bruins are out for redemption Monday night at TD Garden as they rematch the Winnipeg Jets with a 7 p.m. puck drop.
The Bruins put together one of their worst performances of the season on Dec. 22 in the 5-1 loss against the Jets at Canada Life Centre, but are now riding off a dominant 9-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night in which they extended their win streak to four.
“Last time we were in there, I thought they embarrassed us. They played the right way, they were on top of us, they didn’t give us any room,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Monday.
“We have to be prepared to fight for every foot of ice. Doesn’t matter if it’s in our own end or their end tonight. It’s a good challenge for us.”
For the first time in a while, Boston’s roster is at full health with the returns of Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort, Matt Poitras and Linus Ullmark, and things have been clicking. In Saturday’s nine-goal game, 16 Bruins had points and Danton Heinen scored his first career hat trick.
Dec 22, 2023; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi (13) and Boston Bruins forward Danton Heinen (43) skate after the puck during the first period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY SportsThey’ll look to carry that offensive firepower into Monday’s matchup against the Jets – a team the Bruins only got one goal by in December.
“We didn’t have a good taste in our mouths from that one. Felt like they dominated us all over the ice,” Heinen said Monday. “So definitely a little more motivation, and I think you’ll see a team that’s ready to go tonight.”
Parker Wotherspoon will draw into the lineup in place of Kevin Shattenkirk, Montgomery said. Wotherspoon skated on the third pair with Forbort during Monday morning’s practice.
Jeremy Swayman is expected to get the start against Winnipeg after Linus Ullmark made his return from injury Saturday with a 21-save showing. Swayman has posted a 2.37 goals against average and .923 save percentage through 25 games. The goaltender last played Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche in the 5-2 win and made 32 saves.
“They played well, they’re a good team. You can see that in their record and how well they’ve done this year,” Morgan Geekie said of the Jets Monday. “I think we’ve taken a lot of steps, especially these last few games with our complete game and details and habits and stuff.”
Dec 22, 2023; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Alex Iafallo (9) takes a shot on Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman (1) during the third period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY SportsBruins lines from Monday’s morning skate:
Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk - Pavel Zacha - Jake DeBrusk
Jakub Lauko - Morgan Geekie - Trent Frederic
Jesper Boqvist - Matt Poitras - Danton Heinen
Matt Grezlcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Parker Wotherspoon
Oskar Steen - Kevin Shattenkirk
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
First power play unit: Pastrnak, Coyle, Marchand, McAvoy, van Riemsdyk
Second power play unit: DeBrusk, Lindholm, Zacha, Geekie, Frederic
Five things to know about WInnipeg:
- The Jets opened their three-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in which they improved to a 30-10-4 record, best for first place in the Central Division with 64 points.
- Mark Scheifele will not play against the Bruins. The forward is sidelined with a lower-body injury he suffered Jan. 11 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Scheifele leads Winnipeg in points with 41 (14 goals, 27 assists).
- Forward Kyle Connor leads the Jets in goals with 18. Connor is skating on the first line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi. He has logged five points in his last five games.
- Connor Hellebuyck is expected to start in net against Boston. The goaltender has a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% through 33 games played. Hellebuyck last played Saturday against Ottawa and made 35 saves.
- Defenseman Josh Morrissey is third on the team in points with 33 (seven goals, 26 assists). Morrissey is skating on the first pair with Dylan DeMelo and has a point and three of the last five games.
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