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It’s almost impossible to realize that the Bruins, who have played just five games this season, are dealing with as many injuries as they are. And though a new batch of injuries have crept up on the Black and Gold, with Tuukka Rask knocked out of Wednesday’s practice after a collision with first-year pro Anders Bjork (and ruled out for tonight’s game), at least veteran reinforcement is on the way.
David Backes, who has missed the first five games of the season due to diverticulitis, is ready to go.
“I’m ready to contribute to a win for our guys at home in a time where things haven’t been great by any means, but it’s five games into a long season. It’s a process, got a lot of young faces,… the 33-year-old Backes said after today’s optional skate at Warrior Ice Arena. “We’re gonna have a good solid game, take care of what we can control, and the chips will fall where they lay. But if we take care of what we can control, we’re gonna like where they’re laying at the end of the night.…
To make room for Backes’ return to the team, forward Ryan Spooner (groin tear) has officially been placed on the injured reserve, and is expected to miss the next four to six weeks. Kenny Agostino, with two goals and seven points in three games with the P-Bruins this season, will skate in his spot in the B’s lineup (likely as a wing for center Riley Nash) and on the half-wall of the first power-play unit.
Patrice Bergeron, who has been working his way back from a lower-body injury for over two weeks, will be a game-time decision, with Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy saying that he’s “real close.…
Bergeron really is the critical piece to the equation (even more than usual), too, as the Bruins are quite short on centers if he does indeed miss his sixth straight contest tonight.
“A lot of if’s, right?… Cassidy smiled today. “[Backes] may play center if Bergeron’s out, absolutely. Again, he hasn’t played a whole lot there, so we’re looking at all our options. I don’t want to sound like I’m skirting the question, but until the lineup shakes out… We’re comfortable with him at center, but he’s played more wing for us. We all know that. So that’s where he’ll probably go.…
The one thing the Bruins do know, however, is that this game will be played out the 30-year-old Rask, as he continues to undergo evaluation, and with the B's still unsure as to what exactly is wrong with Rask after that collision with Bjork. It's clear that they're looking for concussion-like symptoms, but are waiting for more information before making their next move.
With Rask out, Anton Khudobin gets the start for the Bruins.
Khudobin stopped 29-of-31 shots in a 6-2 win over the Coyotes last Saturday, and has stopped all but two of the 40 shots thrown his way to date. Khudobin has a 2-0-0 record with one shutout and .956 save percentage in two career games against the Canucks, including a 29-of-32 win last year season.
In other lineup news, defenseman Adam McQuaid is expected to play tonight. McQuaid took a puck off the inside of his knee in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Golden Knights, but has responded well to two straight days of practice, and is expected to be in his normal spot on a pair with Torey Krug.
Ryan White, with the team on a professional tryout, has yet to hear if the B’s are going to sign him. White, fittingly enough, skated with the Canucks on a pro tryout in their training camp this season.
This is the start of a four-game homestand for the Bruins. The Bruins are 1-1-0 at home this season.
Ty Anderson is the Boston Bruins beat writer for WEEI.com, and has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010. He can be heard on the Saturday Skate program on 93.7 WEEI (Boston), and has been part of the Boston Chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Contact him on Twitter or send him an email at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.