In a showdown against the defending Cup-winning Penguins, the Bruins are going to ice a third line that could not be found in their organizational rolodex just five days ago.
In the middle, it’ll be David Backes, a player that Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy has been extraordinarily reluctant to play at center for anything close to a real run. On the left, moving over from the right side that he tallied a goal and added an assist on in over 15 minutes of action on Tuesday, it’ll be Tommy Wingels. And in what will be his first NHL game since Apr. 9, 2017, the 39-year-old Brian Gionta will debut to Backes’ right.
What a trio.
In the case of Backes and Wingels, Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win gave you a brief glimpse of the heavy and hard-hitting game the duo will bring to each shift. But it’s with Gionta that there’s some mystery, especially when it comes to his fit with this group.
And in an increasingly younger NHL.
“Just go out there and do whatever I can to help the team,… Gionta, who skated in five games for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics and felt OK handling the skating game that the larger ice surface presented, said on Thursday. “I said it coming in-- that they have a great team and I am here to support it whatever way I can. To be part of this group is pretty cool, pretty special to have that opportunity.…
Gionta -- a veteran of 1,006 NHL games between the Devils, Canadiens and Sabres -- totaled 15 goals and 35 points in 82 games for the Sabres last season.
With Gionta in, first-year NHLer Danton Heinen will sit as a healthy scratch.
Heinen was taken out of the forward rotation early in Tuesday’s contest, finishing with 11:25 of time on ice, and has just one assist in his last nine contests.
“We like him as a player. We trust him as a player,… Cassidy, later noting the hectic grind of the B’s schedule, said of Heinen’s recent play. “His defensive game is fine for a young guy. It’s just a little bit lately, he has hasn’t been winning as many battles.…
Left-shot defenseman Nick Holden, acquired from the Rangers nine days ago, will also make his B’s debut and skate on a pairing with Brandon Carlo. That will put puck-mover Matt Grzelcyk, who is dealing with a minor injury, up to level nine as a scratch.
This will be the season series finale between the B's and Penguins this season.
The Bruins are 1-0-1 against Pittsburgh thus far.
Loose pucks: Adam McQuaid will also sit as a healthy scratch for the Bruins. Tough to see such a team-first guy collect some rust in the press box, especially when he's given actual pieces of his body to helping this team win games... The Boston power play is currently stuck in a rut, going just 2-for-32 in their last 11 games.