Bruins at Devils: Game preview, lineups, and more
The Boston Bruins start their 2021 season at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils.
Boston Bruins hockey is finally back! For the first time since their disappointing exit from the Toronto Bubble at the end of August due to the current Stanley Cup Champs, Tampa Bay Lightning, the B’s will take the ice. For their first game, the Black and Gold will be on the road against the New Jersey Devils starting at 7 PM EST.
For Boston, they’re basically the same team as last season, with a few major changes, however. The Bruins lost both defenseman Torey Krug, and defenseman and former longtime captain Zdeno Chara in free agency. Krug went to the St. Louis Blues on a massive seven-year, $45.5 million deal, while Chara signed with the Washington Capitals on a one-year worth up to $1,525,000.
However, the B’s were able to bring in depth scoring for their forward core with right wing Craig Smith on a team-friendly three-year, $9.3 million deal. Along with this, general manager Don Sweeney also extended defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a four-year, $14.75 million deal and left wing Jake DeBrusk to a two-year, $7.35 million extension.
Along with Krug and Chara being gone, two thirds of Boston’s “perfection line” are injured, as David Pastrnak still has about a month before he’ll be back from offseason labrum and hip procedures, and Brad Marchand is now a game-time decision as he tries to return from offseason sports hernia surgery. On top of these injuries, Smith is also a game-time decision tonight with a lower-body injury and Karson Kuhlman is still unfit to play due to COVID-19 protocols.
With this, the Bruins will be highly relying on their second line of DeBrusk, David Krejci, and Ondrej Kase to score, rookie Jack Studnicka and young winger Anders Bjork to step up on the first line centered by Patrice Bergeron, and defensemen Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy to make up for the loss of Krug on the power play.
Like the B’s, the Devils have made some big changes on the left side of their defense. Last year, they had Mirco Mueller, Dakota Mermis, and Connor Carick, this year they have Ryan Murray, Dmitry Kulikov, Ty Smith, and Will Butcher. This is a huge improvement from last year.
Offensively, the Devils are practically the same except for some depth piece changes. However, they’re also dealing with some injuries and absences. New Jersey will be without center Nico Hischier due to injury, and winger Jesper Bratt and defenseman Sami Vatanen as they await their arrivals and for them to quarantine.
Projected Lineups
Boston Bruins
Record: 0-0-0
As I previously mentioned, the Bruins will be could be without two of the three members of their first line tonight and also be missing middle-six right wing Craig Smith. However, it’s been reported that Marchand has a better chance of playing tonight than Smith.
Depending on if Marchand and/or Smith play, the offensive lineup can look a few different ways.
So if both Marchand and Smith play, the offense will most likely look like this:
Marchand – Bergeron – Studnicka
DeBrusk – Krejci – Kase
Ritchie – Coyle – Smith
Bjork – Kuraly – Wagner
If both don’t play, things could be a little tricky, but I would think, things look like this:
Bjork – Bergeron – Studnicka
DeBrusk – Krejci – Kase
Ritchie – Kuraly – Coyle
Frederic – Lindholm – Wagner
Bjork played on the first line with Bergeron and Studnicka in the first scrimmage of training camp. He looked good in this spot, so I expect him to be there if Marchand can’t go. Charlie Coyle can also play right wing, so I think the best option for the Bruins would be to move Coyle over and Sean Kuraly up. This allows everyone to play a position they’re familiar with and on their strong side.
If it’s just Smith that can’t play, expect Bjork to be playing third line right wing with either Trent Frederic or Par Lindholm at fourth line left wing. If it’s Marchy that can’t go expect Bjork at first line left wing with again either Frederic or Lindholm at fourth line left wing.
The B’s defense is basically set in stone right now. Kevan Miller is expected to make his return tonight after missing over 20 months of game action with a knee injury. This puts him ahead of Connor Clifton on the depth chart.
With Chara and Krug gone, expect Jeremy Lauzon to take the place of Chara alongside McAvoy and Grzelcyk in the spot of Krug alongside Carlo. Rookie Jakub Zboril will be taking the last left side spot alongside Miller.
So the Bruins’ defense will look like this tonight:
Lauzon – McAvoy
Grzelcyk – Carlo
Zboril – Miller
In net, I expect Tuukka Rask to start with Jaroslav Halak backing him up.
New Jersey Devils
Record: 0-0-0
As I mentioned earlier the Devils will be without Hischier, Bratt, and Vatanen tonight. Additionally, their head coach, Lindy Ruff, has not revealed their lineup yet. But, we can guess their lineup based on their lineup from their last practice.
The Devils’ offense looked like this:
Sharangovich – Hughes – Palmieri
Johnsson – Zacha – Gusev
Wood – Zajac – Boqvist
Kuokkanen – McLeod – Bastian
The Devils’ defense looked like this:
Murray – Subban
Kulikov – Severson
Smith – Tennyson
In net, expect MacKenzie Blackwood to start with Scott Wedgewood backing him up.
Game Prediction
Overall, without Pastrnak, I think the Bruins and Devils are closely matched, especially if the B’s are also without Marchand and/or Smith. The Bruins will be relying heavily on their middle-six in this game if Marchand is out.
When it comes to the bottom-six, I think the Devils have a slight edge on the B’s. Defensively, both teams could go either way. The entire left side of the Devils defense is on a new team, while the left side of the Black and Gold is inexperienced.
I think this will be a close game that ends ups going past regulation. However, at the end of the night, the Bruins will be victorious with a 3-2 overtime final.
Boston’s three goals will come three different goal scorers. DeBrusk will have the first, as the second line comes out hot. Studnicka will have the second, his first in the NHL, as he takes some time getting readjusted to the NHL game. And Bergeron will have the OT winner, solidifying himself as the new captain.
Where to watch
On TV, this game can be viewed on NESN or MSG+. The game can also be streamed using MSG Go. The game can also be heard via radio at 98.5 the Sports Hub.