The Boston Bruins have some tough choices to make this weekend and this afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers will decide who makes the team’s opening night roster.
Tonight is the final dress rehearsal for the Bruins 2016-17 season. The Boston Bruins are getting ready to put the finishing touches on their opening night roster. This afternoon’s game will be a make or break game for some of these players currently on the bubble.
The Bruins front office will start making the big cuts right after the game today. Some players will be sent down to Providence or elsewhere, and it’s important the Bruins pick the right players for opening night. Claude Julien knows there are some tough decisions ahead.
“Monday is the last day here to put guys on waivers if I’m correct – so we’ve got to be really, really close to our team and I want to be close to our team,” Julien said following Friday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “So, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we really focus on that group and getting ready for our opener in Columbus on Thursday, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Training camps are fun, but they’re also hard when you’re looking to get your group together and in sync.”
Here is the expected roster for tonight’s home game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Forwards
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Ryan Spooner – David Krejci – David Backes
Matt Beleskey – Austin Czarnik – Jimmy Hayes
Danton Heinen – Dominic Moore – Riley Nash
Defenseman
Zdeno Chara – Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug – Rob O’Gara
Christian Ehrhoff – Kevan Miller
Goaltenders
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Austin Czarnik is on the verge of making this year’s team. The young forward (along with Danton Heinen) have had a very strong training camp and preseason so far. Czarnik’s performance has been so strong as a middle-six center, it’s allowed the Bruins to experiment with their second line.
“He’s got unbelievable hockey sense. He’s playing really, really well,” said Julien of Czarnik’s performance to date. “He’s still here because certainly deserves to still be here.”
“At the end of this week, and start of next week, we’re going to have some tough decisions to make, but we’re here to give opportunities to people that can help our hockey club, and we’re going to continue to think that way.”
Personally, I say keep Czarnik for opening night. A ‘Double Dave’ line of Krejci, Backes, and Ryan Spooner looks like it has a LOT of potential.
As for defensemen, it looks like Carlo, O’ Gara, and Ehrhoff are squaring off to see who gets the open spot on the roster. Carlo has been the most impressive of the group so far, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the B’s chose to go with Ehrhoff (when in doubt, Julien learns towards the veterans).
Unless something goes terribly wrong, expect Rask to be in net for all sixty minutes. He’s going to want to get the rest of the rust off before Thursday, and this will be his last chance to have an off-game that won’t hurt the club.
Next: Bruins Blue Line Almost Ready
Win or lose, the Boston Bruins have looked better than expected this preseason. Yes, there are still a few concerns about the blueline. Still, it seems that Don Sweeney has addressed most of the problems. Hopefully, this final preseason game will get the last of the rust off the Black and Gold.