Bruins at Devils: Game preview, lineups, and more

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.