Analysis: Bruins face difficult task in season opener without Bergeron, Backes and Krug

The organizational depth we’ve been talking about all summer and during training camp will be tested in game No. 1 of the 2017-18 season for the Boston Bruins.

Without the services of Patrice Bergeron (lower-body injury), David Backes (undisclosed) and Torey Krug (broken jaw) against the Nashville Predators Thursday night at TD Garden, it’s going to be extremely difficult for the Bruins to host last season’s Stanley Cup runner-up.

The lineup Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy envisioned to start the season isn’t even close to what it will be Thursday night.

“It throws a few lines into a blender,” Cassidy said. “We’re going to see some tinkering tonight.”



We’ll get to the lines in a second, but the biggest impact will be felt on special teams, especially the penalty kill. Here are two reasons why the Bruins’ PK will be critical this season: 1) Officials will enforce the new slashing rule and there will be more penalties to start the season until players get comfortable with the restrictions. 2) Cassidy’s up-tempo style of play could lead to more penalties when players find themselves out of position.

Time and again Cassidy has preached to his players the idea of checking with your feet (don’t be lazy, move your feet), checking with your stick on the ice and away from opponents’ hands and wrists, and check with your body.

There were a total of 22 stick infractions during the four games Wednesday night to begin the season, so the Bruins realize the officials won’t let things slide. It’s safe to say the Bruins will be in the box and will be without two of their top penalty killers in Bergeron and Backes.

“It’s a hit on the PK,” admitted Cassidy. “Our discipline is going to be even more important than most nights.

The coach was forced to tweak the forwards on the PK and here’s what he’ll use against the Predators: Riley Nash-Brad Marchand, Tim Schaller-Noel Acciari and (if necessary) David Krejci-Sean Kuraly.

On the power play, the Bruins lose both their middle bumper positions. Nash will replace Bergeron in the bumper spot on the first unit, and Jake DeBrusk will replace Backes in the same spot on the second PP.

In the past, Cassidy would feel comfortable keeping the top PP unit on the ice longer. Without Krug and Bergeron, the coach envisions each unit getting equal time with the necessary tweaks. The first power-play unit will be Charlie McCoy, Ryan Spooner, Marchand, Nash and David Pastrnak.

The second unit will be Matt Grzelcyk, Krejci, DeBrusk, Anders Bjork and Kuraly.

Overall, Cassidy’s message to the team was to play with pace, be hard on the puck, on the puck and around the puck.

Without Bergeron, it’s strange to see Spooner centering that line of Marchand and Bjork. Spooner was set to open the season as the third-line center, but he’ll get an opportunity to maybe prove his worth.

“Ryan’s a good offensive player,” Cassidy said. “When he’s on his game he’s very dynamic. Tonight, he’ll have some speed on his wing and he does well with that element, so he’ll get his opportunity and hopefully he’s up to the task.”

Spooner has been given so many opportunities in the past, but he hasn’t performed well on a consistent basis. We’ll see what he’s made of tonight in a larger role.

The Bruins’ second line will remain the same with DeBrusk, Krejci and Pastrnak. The third line will be Matt Beleskey, Kuraly and Frank Vatrano. If everyone was healthy, it’s likely Vatrano would have been a healthy scratch. He didn’t perform consistently well during training camp and this will be his opportunity to fix that.

“They have lots of energy,” Cassidy said of the third line. “They’re obviously going to have to play a north/south game.”

Boston’s fourth unit of Schaller, Nash and Noel Acciari will remain intact.

“We see them as a shutdown line, with some physicality and hopefully a little bit of finish,” Cassidy said.

If there’s a silver lining, the Bruins’ schedule in October is relatively light. After tonight’s game, Boston doesn’t play again until Monday when the Bruins host the Colorado Avalanche. That will give Bergeron and Backes at least six days of rest and recuperation.