The Bruins welcome the Detroit Red Wings to TD Garden Wednesday night in their second to last preseason game. Here are some news and notes from the last few days.
Jaroslav Halak gets the nod
Tuukka Rask missed practice Tuesday as he battles the flu. His illness didn't alter Bruce Cassidy's plan however. Halak was originally scheduled to play the full game Wednesday, with Rask in net for Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Torey Krug and Noel Acciari set for preseason debuts Both Torey Krug and Noel Acciari have yet to see any preseason action as they recover from respective injuries, but that may change Wednesday night.
“That’s the plan,… head coach Bruce Cassidy said after Tuesday's practice about Krug and Acciari’s potential return Wednesday. "I’m not trying to keep any secrets, but they’re scheduled to play. So assuming today [Tuesday] there are no real effects then they’re in.…
Krug was paired with Brandon Carlo as the Bruins second defensive pair on Tuesday, while Acciari centered Chris Wagner and a rotation of Anders Bjork and Ryan Donato on the fourth line.
Jack Studnicka and JFK getting long looks at center With Patrice Bergeron making his way back onto the ice and yet to make his preseason debut, Jack Studnicka and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson have gotten looks on the top line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
Studnicka centered the first line in their first preseason game in China and split time in that role with Forsbacka Karlsson--who centered the line the second China game-- at Tuesday's practice.
Bergeron should be ready to go in the season opener next Wednesday, but the door on the third line is still open for the two young centers.
*UPDATED 3:00PM Wednesday: Studnicka has been returned to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL
Second line right wing down to two The final two preseason games appear to be key ones for Ryan Donato and Danton Heinen. Neither Donato nor Heinen have ran away with the competition that is the spot on the Bruins second line right wing next to Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci.
Both Donato and Heinen have gotten looks on the line in the preseason with Donato slotting next to DeBrusk in China and Heinen to the right of Krejci here in America.
I would expect each to get a full game in with DeBrusk and Krejci in these last two preseason games before a final decision is made.
Lee Stempniak making things hard for the Bruins Skating with the Bruins on a professional tryout, Stempniak has made the most of his opportunity. The 35-year old veteran has a goal and four assists so far this preseason, including a three point performance against a NHL-heavy Flyers squad Monday night.
Stempniak has played well enough to earn himself a spot with the Bruins as the team's extra forward.
More roster cuts for the Bruins On Tuesday the Bruins placed Anton Blidh, Colby Cave, Cody Goloubef, Mark McNeil, and Jordan Szwarz on waivers. The Bruins also sent Connor Clifton, Karson Kuhlman and Jeremy Lauzon to Providence.