Oskar Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk will slot back into the Boston Bruins' lineup Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden.
The Boston Bruins will close out their five-game homestand Wednesday night at TD Garden as they host the Carolina Hurricanes for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop, marking the first time the teams have met this season.
“They’re the games that you love to play – the competitive ones that you know are going to be a battle. It kind of feels like a playoff game every time you play them,” Brad Marchand said Wednesday of facing the Hurricanes.
Boston will look to extend its five-game win streak, most recently beating the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 Monday night. The Bruins have combined for 25 goals in their last five contests, and much of that offensive success is credit to the team’s blossoming forward depth.
“We’ve gotten back to Bruins hockey as a structured team. I think that’s helped a lot,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Wednesday. “But most importantly, I think it’s been the emergence and development of players – Frederic, Geekie, Heinen, van Riemsdyk, ‘JD’ becoming ‘JD’ again.”
Chemistry has been building up and down the lineup: Marchand and Charlie Coyle have clicked on the first line with David Pastrnak, and Trent Fredric and Morgan Geekie’s play has complemented each other well on the third line with Jakub Lauko.
“We have confidence right now. We’re finding much better structure in our game and all of that leads to being better offensively,” Marchand said.
In terms of Wednesday’s lineup, Montgomery said Oskar Steen will slot in for Matt Poitras because he didn’t want the rookie playing “back to back.” Poitras has been on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Danton Heinen, and that is likely where Steen will play.
Kevin Shattenkirk will come in for Parker Wotherspoon on the back end after sitting out of Monday’s game against Winnipeg. Shattenkirk will likely return to the third pair alongside Derek Forbort.
Dec 19, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Oskar Steen (62) during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsLinus Ullmark is expected to get the start in net for the Bruins. The goaltender has posted a 2.80 goals against average and .913 save percentage through 22 games. Ullmark last played Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens in the 9-4 win and made 21 saves.
Wednesday was an optional morning skate for the Bruins, but based on Tuesday’s practice, the lineup may look like this:
Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk- Pavel Zacha-Jake DeBrusk
Jakub Lauko-Morgan Geekie-Trent Frederic
Danton Heinen-Jesper Boqvist-Oskar Steen
Matt Grezlcyk-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort-Kevin Shattenkirk
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
Jan 15, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) is congratulated by center Charlie Coyle (13) and left wing Brad Marchand (63) after scoring against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsFive things to know about the Hurricanes:
- Carolina is coming off a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday in which it dropped to a 25-15-5 record. The Hurricanes sit at third place in the Metropolitan Division with 55 points.
- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said Spencer Martin may get his first start for Carolina. The goaltender was claimed off waivers on Friday from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Martin has a 3.65 GAA and .887 SV% through 13 games. He last played Jan. 2 against the Bruins – while in Columbus – and made 23 saves in the 4-1 loss.
- Andrei Svechnikov will not play in Boston due to an upper-body injury that he sustained Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. The forward is third in points on the team with 30 (11 goals, 19 assists).
- Forward Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in goals (16) and points (51) while skating on the first line with Teuvo Teravainen and Seth Jarvis.
- Seth Jarvis has a team-leading eight power play goals. The forward is on the first unit with Aho, Teravainen, Micheal Bunting and Brent Burns. Carolina boasts the third-best power play in the NHL at 27.0 percent.
Other links: