Boston Bruins Report: Bye Week Updates

We’ve almost made it, Bruins fans. One more day until the Bye Week is over and the Black and Gold return to the ice, Saturday night in Montreal.

Even though the team has been off since Sunday night, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few updates to report.

The Bruins announced Thursday Morning that the postponed game against the Florida Panthers last week will be made up on Sunday April 8th. The team released the following statement on their official website:

"“On behalf of the Boston Bruins I would like to thank Boston Celtics President Rich Gotham, as well as the Celtics organization, Atlanta Hawks, NBA and TD Garden for their flexibility moving the previously scheduled Celtics game on April 8th to a matinee,” said Bruins President Cam Neely. “We are grateful for the flexibility and cooperation of all of these groups which made it possible for the NHL to reschedule our game against the Panthers to the evening of the April 8th.”"

That will be the last game of the regular season, and could potentially could have a playoff type feel if the points at stake will determine playoff seeding or even a playoff birth. The Bruins are no stranger to “win and in” regular season finales, with the most recent coming in 2016, when the team lost to the Ottawa Senators 6-1, ultimately ending their season.

All-Star Weekend

Brad Marchand has been named an All Star for the second straight season. The Veteran Winger is having another fantastic campaign, he has tallied 40 points (17-23-40) to go along with a +19 rating through 32 games.

The game will be played Sunday January 28th in Tampa Bay, once again being played in the 3 vs. 3 tournament style, with the winning division taking home a one million dollar prize. The Skills Competition will be held the night before, no word yet on who is participating in what event.

Anders Bjork Update

Anders Bjork is responding well to being sent down last week to Providence in the AHL, the rookie has four points (2-2-4) in three games. As I said when the news broke last week, he needs ice time and wasn’t going to get it with everyone healthy in Boston right now. Expect to see him back in the NHL as soon as the Bruins are down a man.

The Old Enemy

When the Bruins return to game action Saturday in Montreal, there will be a bunch of “firsts” at play. It will be the first meeting between the two arch-rivals this season, the first of three meetings over the next eight days, and the first trip to the Bell Centre where Claude Julien will be the Canadiens coach.

It has been a rough first full season so far for Julien, the Habs are just 18-20-4 on the year with a -21 goal differential, not something you usually see from a Claude Julien-lead team. There are also trade rumors swirling of franchise star Max Pacioretty being traded before the trade deadline. Even though the Canadiens are struggling, that is no reason to take these matchups lightly, as the two rivals always battle each other hard.

Next: Ryan Spooner Aims High For Future

I will be writing a mailbag this week so get your questions in! You can tweet them at me (@dwatty93) or the Causeway Crowd Twitter Handle (@Causeway_Crowd).