Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets Preview
It’s been over six months since the Boston Bruins played a game with two points on the line, but that changes tonight when they begin their season against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The lineup will look vastly different then when they last took the ice on April 9, in a lackluster loss to Ottawa that ended their season.
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The Bruins will be without some key cogs, who will miss the opener due to injury. Patrice Bergeron (lower-body) and Adam McQuaid (upper-body) are listed as day-to-day and did not travel to Ohio. Defenseman Kevan Miller will be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand.
The injuries on defense have opened the door for defensemen Brandon Carlo and Rob O’Gara to make their debuts. Forwards Danton Heinen and Austin Czarnik are also expected to play in their first NHL game. All four stood out during training camp and made a big impact with the front office. Carlo is listed at six foot five, 203 pounds, and will play alongside Zdeno Chara. He will wear number 25. Rob O’Gara is another rookie hoping to play in his first game, and he has size as well, listed at six foot four, 207 pounds. The Yale graduated will wear number 44, and may play alongside Torey Krug.
Heinen led Denver University last year in scoring and will be on the second line, on the right wing with David Krejci centering and Ryan Spooner on the left. Heinen had 20 goals and 28 assists in 41 games last year in Denver, and will wear number 43. Czarnik was just cleared to play, after taking a vicious hit from Philadelphia Flyer Radko Gudas last week, a hit that cost him the first six games of the session. Czarnik will wear number 27, and center the third line with Matt Beleskey on the left and Jimmy Hayes on the right.
All told, seven players may be looking to make their Bruins debut tonight. David Backes will wear number 42, while Riley Nash will don number 20 and Dominic Moore will wear number 28.
The latest line combinations should look like this:
Forwards:
Brad Marchand– David Backes- David Pasternak
Ryan Spooner- David Krejci- Danton Heinen
Matt Beleskey- Austin Czarnik-Jimmy Hayes
Dominic Moore-Riley Nash-Noel Acciari
Defense:
Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Corey Krug- Rob O’Gara
John-Michael Liles–Colin Miller
Goalies
Next: Predictions for the Boston Bruins
NESN will televise the game with Jack Edwards on play-by-play and Andy Brickley doing color. The SportsHub 98.5 has the radio call, with Dave Goucher on play-by-play and Bob Beers with color. Puck drop will be shortly after 7pm.