Bruins’ Blue Line Could Get A Boost Saturday
The Boston Bruins could be getting some key reinforcements to their blue line when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at TD Garden.
Defensemen Brandon Carlo (upper-body) and Derek Forbort (undisclosed) were hoping to be ready to play in the Bruins’ 5-2 win over the Colorado
Avalanche on Thursday night but were ruled out just prior to the opening faceoff.
There appears to be a good chance that both players could be activated off of injured reserve and play against the Canadiens if all goes well leading up to the 7:08 p.m. faceoff on Saturday night.
“They’re all feeling much better.notably ‘Brando’ [Carlo] and ‘Forby,'” head coach Jim Montgomery said to the reporters on Friday following practice. “Tomorrow will tell how they feel, but things seem much more promising.”
Regarding rookie center Matthew Poitras, who is injured? It looks like the 19-year-old will need a little more time to be ready for action. On Friday, he did center the second line during practice.
“Yes, it depends more on Marchand’s availability; Poitras needs to clear a few more items before he’s prepared.”
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.
On Thursday night, Linus Ullmark—the winner of the 2018 Vezina Trophy—was back in the Boston Bruins starting lineup.
Jeremy Swayman had started the team’s last four games with a 3-0 record. It is anticipated that Ullmark will start in goal on Saturday night against the Canadiens.
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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