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Boston Bruins gameday notebook: Busy week ahead

By Dan Watkins

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 3: Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy talks to his players near the end of practice during media day at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Oct. 3, 2017. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 3: Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy talks to his players near the end of practice during media day at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Oct. 3, 2017. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins get set to embark on four games in six nights this week with the Columbus Blue Jackets in town. Some notes and observations after two days of practice.

The Boston Bruins wrapped up three games in four nights on Saturday when they fell to the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime.

There will be no rest for the weary however, as the team has four games before the NHL’s Christmas break, with the first coming on Monday when the Columbus Blue Jackets come to Boston.

After a full practice Sunday and their morning skate Monday at the Warrior Ice Arena, it appears that the lineup for Bruce Cassidy will look identical to the one on Saturday night.

With that being said, Adam McQuaid (broken leg) is nearing his return, practicing in full on Sunday with the rest of the team.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 9: Adam McQuaid
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 9: Adam McQuaid /

Cassidy spoke on the Defensman’s eventual return on Sunday.

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"“I don’t know if Monday he’ll be cleared, but he is close,” said Cassidy. “He is getting close. He has practiced with us, so it is imminent for him. I just don’t want to pinpoint an exact date.”"

With McQuaid set to return at some point this week, it will be interesting to see what the team does lineup wise. McQuaid will give them seven healthy defensemen, which doesn’t necessarily mean one of the seven will be a healthy scratch. Back around Thanksgiving, Cassidy dressed seven defensmen multiple times, and it doesn’t sound like he’s afraid to go that route again.

"“That’s an internal discussion that we’re starting to have, and then you can play seven D,” said Cassidy. “It could be a different one every night – might play six D one night and seven the next. Again, it will create competition, good competition.”"

Rookie Woes

Just one game after Anders Bjork was benched mid game, Jake DeBrusk suffered the same fate mid-way through the second period against the Rangers. The coaching staff wasn’t happy with him losing a number of battles along the boards, so they sat him for the remainder of the game. It was a season low 7:43 of ice time for the rookie.

Boston Bruins
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 14: Jake DeBrusk /

The last time DeBrusk was benched, it came in form of a healthy scratch, which he responded remarkably, posting six points in the next five games. Here’s hoping for more of the same as he has just two points over his last six contests.

The trickle down effect from the two rookies being benched is: can the team find a consistent winger to skate with David Krejci? Krejci appears to be the healthiest he’s been in a few years and it’s been a bit of a carousel around him. He’s gone from having Debrusk and Bjork flanking him to Debrusk and Spooner to a rotation when Debrusk took a seat.

Tuukka Back in Net

Tuukka Rask will get the nod Monday night against Columbus. The Bruins have been splitting back-to-backs as of late, so it would not be surprising to see Anton Khudobin Tuesday night in Buffalo.

Next: Erik Karlsson trade...is it possible?

Monday’s Lines/Defensive Pairs:

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Krejci – Spooner
Heinen – Nash – Backes
Schaller – Kuraly – Acciari

Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Miller

Rask
Khudobin

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