Bruins’ Blue Line Could Get A Boost Saturday

When the Boston Bruins play the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden on Saturday, they might be adding some significant players to their blue line.

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Thursday night, although defensemen Brandon Carlo (upper-body) and Derek Forbort (undisclosed) were declared out of action moments before the opening faceoff. If all goes according to plan leading up to Saturday night’s 7:08 p.m. faceoff against the Canadiens, there seems to be a reasonable potential that both players might be activated off of injured reserve and participate.

“They all feel a lot better. …specifically ‘Brando’ [Carlo] and ‘Forby,’” head coach Jim Montgomery told the media after practice on Friday. “We’ll see how they feel tomorrow, but it’s a lot more promising.”

As for injured rookie center Matthew Poitras? The 19-year-old, who did center the second line in practice Friday, will apparently need a little more time to be game-ready. “Yeah, more dependent on Marchand not being available; Poitras has a couple more boxes to check before he’ll be ready.

”After the Bruins’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on January 8, Carlo has been sidelined. The following night, Poitras hurt his shoulder during the third period of the team’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Forbort hasn’t appeared in a game since the Bruins’ 3-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 3.

Here’s what the Bruins lineup looked like on Friday at practice:

Forwards

James van Riemsdyk-Charlie Coyle-David Pastrnak

Pavel Zacha-Matthew Poitras-Jake DeBrusk

Jakub Lauko-Morgan Geekie-Trent Frederic

Danton Heinen-Jesper Boqvist-Oskar Steen

John Beecher

Defensemen

Matt Grzelcyk-Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm-Parker Wotherspoon

Mason Lohrei-Kevin Shattenkirk

Derek Forbort-Brandon Carlo

Goalies

Linus Ullmark

Jeremy Swayman

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