The Boston Bruins finish off their two-game mini series with the New Jersey Devils tonight. They’ll once again be looking to score at least one goal after being shutout by the Devils for the second straight time.
This will be the sixth of eight matchups between Boston and New Jersey this season. The story going into this game is not much different than the previous one.
The B’s once again failed to get the puck passed a Devils’ goaltender. However, at least this time, it wasn’t their backup. But going into last game MacKenzie Blackwood had been struggling, including giving up four goals on 22 shots his last start.
The Black and Gold will eventually have to find the back of the net agains New Jersey, and with some key players returning tonight, I have a feeling that night could be tonight.
Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils projected lineups.
Boston Bruins
Record: 17-9-5 (39 points)
The B’s have been without one of their top four defensemen now for almost a month. However, tonight, Brandon Carlo finally returns after taking a headshot from Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson.
Carlo will most likely be in his normal spot on the second defensive pairing. With the return of Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy will be broken up and Grzelcyk will go back to the second pairing with Jeremy Lauzon going back up to the first pairing.
Additionally, with Carlo back, Steve Kampfer will be coming out of the lineup and Connor Clifton going down to the third pairing.
Along with Carlo, the B’s will also be getting back left wing Brad Marchand. Marchand missed the last two games due to a false-positive result from a COVID-19 test. With Marchy back, Trent Frederic will go back down to the fourth line, but will be at center with Jack Studnicka a healthy scratch.
Sean Kuraly and Jake DeBrusk are still on the COVID list and will remain out for tonight’s game. Anders Bjork and Anton Blidh will be in for them.
Tuukka Rask is still out with an upper-body injury so Jaroslav Halak will be in net tonight with Dan Vladar backing him up.
Expect the Bruins to look like this tonight:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Ritchie – Krejci – Smith
Bjork – Coyle – Senyshyn
Blidh – Frederic – Kuhlman
Lauzon – McAvoy
Grzelcyk – Carlo
Zboril – Clifton
Halak (Vladar)
New Jersey Devils
Record: 13-16-4 (30 points)
After shutting out the B’s last game, the Devils will be going with the same lineup tonight.
Expect the Devils to look like this tonight:
Kuokkanen – Zajac – Sharangovich
Bratt – Hughes – Palmieri
Wood – Zacha – Merkley
Johnsson – McLeod – Boqvist
Smith – Severson
Kulikov – Subban
Murray – Vatanen
Blackwood (Wedgewood)
Where and when to watch Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils.
Time: 7 PM EST
Location: TD Garden
TV Broadcast: NESN, MSG+, SNE, SNO, SNP
Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub
As I said earlier, the B’s are coming off back-to-back shutouts against the Devils. Tonight, I think they come out motivated and hard against New Jersey and pull out a win.