The Bruins knew they were going to be without David Pastrnak for Thursday night’s season-opener, as the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner is expected to miss at least the first couple weeks.
They were hoping to be at full-strength besides that, but that may not be the case. Speaking to the media Thursday afternoon, coach Bruce Cassidy revealed that fellow forwards Brad Marchand and Craig Smith will both be game-time decisions against the Devils.
Marchand has been working his way back from offseason sports hernia surgery, and while opening night has been his target since the start of training camp, it was never a given.
Marchand sat out practice Monday and Tuesday to manage some soreness, but returned to the ice Wednesday. Even after missing those two practices, indications were that Marchand was still expected to play Thursday, but it now appears it’ll come right down to the wire.
Smith, whom the Bruins signed as a free agent this offseason, tweaked something in his lower body earlier this week and “didn’t feel great” when he woke up Thursday, according to Cassidy.
If one of Marchand or Smith can’t go, it sounds like Trent Frederic will be the first man up to draw into the lineup. Cassidy said he plans to play Frederic, a first-round pick in 2016, at some point in the first few games anyways.
If both can’t go, it’s unclear who else would go in, but it would likely be either Greg McKegg or Par Lindholm, both of whom cleared waivers in recent days and are with the team in New Jersey.
If Marchand and Smith are both cleared, here’s the expected lineup based on Thursday’s morning skate:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jack Studnicka
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Anders Bjork - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Jakub Zboril - Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak