One final test awaits for players on the roster bubble as the Bruins take on the New York Rangers in their final preseason game.
The Boston Bruins wrap up their preseason slate at Madison Square Garden on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (TV: TNT | Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub).
The Bruins practiced at Warrior Ice Arena before traveling to New York City. Here is how they lined up:
Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Jesper Boqvist - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak
Trent Frederic - Matt Poitras - Morgan Geekie
AJ Greer - Johnny Beecher - Patrick Brown
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Ian Mitchell
Jeremy Swayman
Brandon Bussi
Earlier this week, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said the lineup for the final preseason game would “essentially” resemble the opening night lineup. That does not mean notable absences such as Linus Ullmark, Hampus Lindholm and James van Riemsdyk aren’t making the team.
Another veteran forward, Danton Heinen, is not playing tonight. He’s under a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) and will be released if he does not make the roster cut, but Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said his absence from the lineup Thursday holds no indication of his fate one way or the other.
“I know what Danton Heinen is. I know what he brings, so I don’t need to see him play tonight,” Montgomery told reporters on Thursday. “I think he’s had a good camp, and we got to see how everything plays out over the next – whatever it is – five days before we start.”
Instead, there will be one final test for the handful of young prospects that have impressed so far this preseason, and also for older free agents on the fringe.
Matt Poitras, Johnny Beecher and Mason Lohrei make up the younger contingent fighting for spots.
Poitras, 19, has flashed advanced offensive instincts and battled defensively. The Bruins spent the majority of training camp playing Morgan Geekie at center with Trent Frederic on his wing, so putting Poitras as the third center and moving Geekie to the wing for this final preseason matchup is not insignificant. Seeing how Poitras can mesh without star-caliber players on his wing like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will go a long way in determining Poitras’ NHL-readiness.
Beecher, 22, has provided a high-motor with scoring upside as the center for a potential fourth line with Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko. Big performances from Beecher and/or Poitras would all but solidify their spots.
Lohrei, 22, seems more likely to head to AHL Providence, where he will play big minutes in all situations as he continues to develop his game, but a strong impression on Thursday would at least put him towards the top of the pecking order of potential AHL call-ups during the season, if he’s not there already.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Ian Mitchell will get a look on the third pair with Derek Forbort, which is where he’s likely to find himself playing during the season if he lands a spot as the seventh defenseman on the roster, rotating in with veteran Kevin Shattenkirk among others.
Looking at the other side of the coin, Thursday’s game is equally as big for the older forwards in Jesper Boqvist, AJ Greer and Patrick Brown. All three have NHL experience on their side, and while none have had superb camps thus far, a good game against the Rangers could go a long way in hanging on to a spot.
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