Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman returned to practice after missing Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with an illness. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy did not participate after sustaining an upper-body injury in the loss.
BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Boston Bruins returned to Warrior Ice Arena on Friday following their 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
The Arizona Coyotes come to town for a 1 p.m. ET puck drop, and this is how the Bruins lined up during Friday's practice:
Brad Marchand - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk - Charlie Coyle - Trent Frederic
Jake DeBrusk - Matt Poitras - Danton Heinen
Oskar Steen - Johnny Beecher - Morgan Geekie
Jakub Lauko
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Hampus Lindholm - Ian Mitchell
Mason Lohrei - Kevin Shattenkirk
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
Brandon Bussi
While Charlie McAvoy was not present, Jeremy Swayman returned to practice after missing Thursday's game with an illness. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said that the 25-year-old netminder will be an "option" as Saturday's starter.
If Swayman is not ready to go, Montgomery indicated Linus Ullmark would start for the second game in a row on Thursday night. Emergency call-up Brandon Bussi was returned to AHL Providence on Friday afternoon after practicing in the morning.
Montgomery confirmed Matt Poitras will return to the lineup Saturday after he was a planned scratch against Buffalo. The 19-year-old rookie sat for the first time this season after putting up five goals and 11 points in his first 24 games.
"The plan that we've laid out is something that we're going to have constant dialogue with him and everybody that's involved that came up with the plan," Montgomery said Friday. "Just to make sure that, you know, if we need to tweak it, we'll tweak it."
Poitras will have more planned scratches in the future as the organization tries to ease his transition process into the NHL, with Montgomery citing the physical toll of playing and traveling on an NHL schedule.
Brad Marchand moved back up to join Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak on the top line. The captain has each of the Bruins' last five goals, spanning the past three games.
"I've always liked that line. [We] go back to it just because [we're] looking for a spark, right?" Montgomery said.
Montgomery also reunited the van Riemsdyk-Coyle-Frederic line, which has clicked anytime they've played together.
With a renewed focus and a return to what's worked in the past, Boston aims to start a new win streak with a win against Arizona on Saturday.