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Boston Bruins Lines and Pairings Game 5 – Ryan Spooner Scratched

By Brandon Share-Cohen

Apr 12, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Tom Pyatt (10) skates with the puck in front Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner (51) in the second period as part of game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Tom Pyatt (10) skates with the puck in front Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner (51) in the second period as part of game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Bruins Lines and Pairings Against Ottawa Senators Game 5 With Ryan Spooner Out of the Lineup

It’s do-or-die time for the Boston Bruins. When the team meets the Ottawa Senators on the ice at Candian Tire Centre for game five, everything is on the line. For the Senators, a loss would still give them some breathing room. A win, however, would clinch their spot in the second round of the playoffs and eliminate the Bruins. That isn’t an option for a Boston team that missed the postseason in each of the last two years before finally making it back.

When the team takes the ice tonight, they will be featuring a slightly different lineup. While the changes to the team have typically come on the backend due to injury thus far in the series, Friday’s change will impact the team’s forward group. With the team in a must-win situation, Boston is scratching Ryan Spooner and slotting Sean Kuraly into the lineup.

Lines and Pairings

With Kuraly in, the Bruins’ fourth line will look different than it has in recent games. The defense, however, will remain the same with no reinforcements coming in the form of Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo or Adam McQuaid.

Related Story: Boston Bruins in Do or Die Situation

Forwards:

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Backes

Drew Stafford-David Krejci-David Pastrnak

Dominic Moore-Riley Nash-Noel Acciari

Frank Vatrano-Sean Kuraly-Tim Schaller

Defense:

Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy

Joe Morrow-Kevan Miller

John-Michael Liles-Colin Miller

Goaltender:

Tuukka Rask

Head coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned that Spooner wasn’t 100 percent, but that the decision wasn’t made due to injury. In short, Spooner could play if the team called upon him. Instead, they are rolling with Kuraly in this elimination game while Spooner will watch from the press box in what could be his last game as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Ryan Spooner a Pending Restricted Free Agent

On July 1, Spooner will become a restricted free agent. His displeasures with Claude Julien were made known following the team firing Julien as the head coach and promoting Cassidy in his place as the team’s interim head coach. Unfortunately, the same quarrels that Spooner had with Julien ended up becoming a reality with Cassidy as well, culminating in his designation as a scratch ahead of game five.

If the Bruins win the game and extend the series, there is still no guarantee that Spooner will find his way back into the lineup. With that in mind, it’s entirely possible that the 25-year-old has already played in his last game in a Bruins’ jersey. If the team doesn’t see a spot for Spooner in their future plans, he could be moved as a restricted free agent in the offseason to a team that may find a better use for him.

Next: Bruins Lines and Pairings Game 4

For now, the Bruins’ only focus is on winning game five. A loss would put the team in the same situation they’ve been in over the last three seasons – a feeling of failure. The difference? They’ll have a lower draft pick this time around. If the team can somehow stave off elimination and push their way into the second-round, they will have exceeded expectations heading into the season.

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