Game Day Preview: Boston Bruins Take On New Jersey Devils
The Bruins will be without Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy who are both sidelined with upper-body, day-to-day injuries.
Game Day Preview: Boston Bruins Take On New Jersey Devils
The Boston Bruins will face the New Jersey Devils for the first time this season Wednesday night at Prudential Center for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
“It’s just the speed and transition. We have to do everything a second quicker so that we have the numbers we want in the right areas,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Tuesday of playing the Devils. “It’s going to be a great test to see if our transition defense in particular is where it needs to be.”
The B’s last played Saturday afternoon at TD Garden where they beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-3, however lost forward Pavel Zacha to an upper-body injury after the first period. Zacha joins Charlie McAvoy (upper body) in the day-to-day injury category – both players will not be available against the Devils. Montgomery said they’ll be reevaluated for Friday against the New York Islanders.
In Zacha’s absence, Morgan Geekie skated as the first-line center between Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak during Tuesday’s practice. The Bruins also called up Jesper Boqvist from AHL Providence for forward options, although Montgomery said it was “undecided” if the former Devil would be in the lineup Wednesday.
“The ask for Geekie is to start on time and play with the assertiveness and the aggressiveness that he played with in all three zones last game,” Montgomery said to reporters Wednesday.
Jakub Lauko will be back in the lineup Wednesday after sitting as a healthy scratch on Saturday. Montgomery said Lauko will skate on the fourth line with Johnny Beecher and Oskar Steen. Montgomery confirmed his other three centers will be Charlie Coyle, Geekie and Poitras, but he’s still sorting out his wingers.
Linus Ullmark has started the last two games for Boston as Jeremy Swayman was getting over an illness. Montgomery said Tuesday both goaltenders are healthy, but when talking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, would not reveal the starter against New Jersey.
As for the rest of the lineup, here’s how the Bruins skated at Tuesday’s practice:
Jake DeBrusk-Morgan Geekie-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Charlie Coyle-Trent Frederic
James van Riemsdyk-Matt Poitras-Danton Heinen
Jakub Lauko-Johnny Beecher-Oskar Steen
Jesper Boqvist
Hampus Lindholm-Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk-IanMitchell
Mason Lohrei-Kevin Shattenkirk
The Bruins also shook up their power play look. Geekie slotted onto the first unit in the bumper position alongside Kevin Shattenkrik, Brad Marchand, Pastrnak and DeBrusk. The second unit had Coyle at the bumper alongside Hampus Lindholm, James van Riemsdyk, Poitras and Matt Grzelcyk.
Five things to know about the Devils:
- New Jersey is coming off of a 4-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday in which it fell to a 14-11-1 record.
- Forward Jack Hughes leads the Devils in points with 33 (10 goals, 23 assists). Hughes has been centering the first line between Timo Meier and Tyler Toffoli.
- Jesper Bratt is right behind Jack Hughes in points with 32, and leads New Jersey in goals with 12. Bratt is skating on the second line with Ondrej Palat and Nico Hischier.
- Vitek Vanecek has started 17 games for the Devil and posted a 3.49 goals against average and .879 save percentage. Akira Schmid has started in 12 games and has a 3.03 GAA and .901 SV%. The two goaltenders have been rotating as of late.
- The Devils have the top power play percentage in the league (32.6 percent). The Bruins, on the other hand, have the top penalty kill percentage in the league (89.9). New Jersey’s first power play unit is comprised of Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Tyler Toffoli.
