Game Day Preview: Boston Bruins Close Out Road Trip Against St. Louis Blues
Jeremy Swayman will get his second consecutive start in net for the Boston Bruins Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.
Game Day Preview: Boston Bruins Close Out Road Trip Against St. Louis BluesThe Boston Bruins will close out their four-game road trip Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center with an 8 p.m. puck drop.
The rematch of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final marks the first time the teams are meeting in the 2023-24 season.
“We’ve been on the road, this is the ninth day, it’s your fourth game. Sometimes your focus goes back [to] ‘I can’t wait to get home,’” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters Saturday. “Our focus needs to be in the present, which is a huge part of our process.”
The B’s are on a three-game losing streak, but have picked up a point in each game. Boston most recently fell 2-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime Thursday night.
“If we get one tonight, it can turn out to be five out of eight points, so it’s not a terrible road trip if we do that,” Trent Frederic told reporters Saturday. “Our emphasis is to start well and try to get those two points.”
Injuries have tested the Bruins’ depth as of late. Linus Ullmark, Matt Poitras and Brandon Carlo are still unavailable. Ullmark, however, practiced Saturday morning while Poitras and Carlo did not skate.
“It felt better. I would say, it didn’t feel as bad as I expected, but also didn’t feel as good as I wanted to. But pleased with it for now at least, I’m positive,” Ullmark told reporters Saturday.
Ullmark and Poitras were both injured, and listed as day-to-day, in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Carlo suffered an upper-body injury Monday against the Colorado Avalanche and was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
Pavel Zacha did not skate Saturday morning, and per Bruins team reporter Eric Russo, is a game-time decision due to illness.
Jeremy Swayman – who was selected by fan vote for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game – will start in back-to-back games for the second time this season as Ullmark continues to rest. The goaltender has a 2.47 goals against average and .920 save percentage through 22 games.
AHL Providence call-up Brandon Bussi remains with the team and will back up Swayman.
Per Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic, these were the Bruins’ practice lines Saturday morning:
Jesper Boqvist-Morgan Geekie-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-Jake DeBrusk
James van Riemsdyk-Trent Frederic-Danton Heinen
Jakub Lauko-Johnny Beecher-Oskar Steen
Mason Lohrei-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Parker Wotherspoon
Matt Grzelcyk-Kevin Shattenkirk
Jeremy Swayman
Brandon Bussi
Linus Ullmark
Five things to know about the Blues:
- St. Louis has won three of its last four games and is coming off a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers Thursday night. The Blues have a 21-18-1 record, good for 43 points and fifth place in the Central Division.
- Forward Jordan Kyrou scored a hat trick Thursday night while skating on the first line with Pavel Buchnevich and Robert Thomas. Kyrou has 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) through 40 games.
- Thomas leads St. Louis in both goals (16), assists (27) and points (43). The center has logged five points in his last five games. Former Bruin Torey Krug leads Blues defenseman in points with 19 (one goal, 18 assists) while skating on the second pair with Matt Kessel.
- Jordan Binnington will likely get the start for the Blues against the Bruins. The goaltender has a 3.01 GAA and .907 SV% through 29 games. Binnington last played Thursday against the Rangers and made 40 saves.
- St. Louis’ special teams have struggled this season. The Blues’ power play is second to worst in the NHL (31st place) at 12 percent. However, they scored two power play goals Thursday. The penalty kill is 22nd in the league at 78.1 percent.