Notebook: Bruins' David Krejci not ready to return

ANAHEIM -- David Krejci is getting closer to returning to the lineup, but it won't be against the Ducks tonight at Honda Center.

The veteran forward has missed 10 games with a back injury, but he's been able to practice with the team the last few days and he's showing no ill effects. He participated in the team's morning skate, but coach Bruce Cassidy believes Thursday against the Kings is a better choice.

"He's doing much better," Cassidy said. "It looks like (Thursday) will be a good target date for him. It'll be a game-time decision."

Since Brad Marchand (day-to-day) is out the next two games, Boston's top line will be Peter Cehlarik, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

"We've got some moving parts," Cassidy said. "Jake (DeBrusk) can go up there, or (Danton) Heinen, so we have a couple of options. But we're going to start with Peter and see how it plays out. . . He's a puck-protection guy, a big body and Bergy plays that (physical) game well with Marchy. They're different sizes but have the same kind of style, in terms of protecting the puck and making plays down low, so I think (Cehlarik) will complement there. He'll get to the net and help recover pucks. There's a bit of an unknown but we'll see how he does. It's a patchwork kind of mentality, and if we find there's a better fit, and Jake's moving well, or Heinen, we'll reshuffle."



Anders Bjork will not join the team on this trip. He was on the receiving end of a massive collision with the Maple Leafs' Matt Martin on Saturday. Bjork finished the game but has not been on the ice since.

Noel Acciari will be in the lineup. He attended the memorial services for his friend and former teammate Drew Brown, who passed away on Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was 25. Brown's father called Acciari on Saturday to inform him of Drew's passing. Still, Acciari played Saturday night against the Maple Leafs at TD Garden. Acciari was allowed a brief leave of absence from the Bruins to attend Brown's memorial services in Michigan. Acciari did not practice with the team on Monday or Tuesday, but was back for the morning skate on Wednesday in preparation for the game against the Ducks.



DeBrusk, who was a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Maple Leafs at TD Garden, returns to the lineup tonight. Cassidy said that DeBrusk has been lacking his "legs" or energy of late and the team is looking for that aspect of his game to return tonight.

"It seems like the game follows me around when I'm flying," DeBrusk said. "I know I'll be ready to go and we'll how it goes."


Tuukka Rask will start against the Ducks. Forward Kenny Agostino and defenseman Rob O'Gara will be the healthy scratches tonight.

Here are the projected line combinations and defensive pairings vs. Ducks

Forwards 

Cehlarik - Bergeron- Pastrnak
Vatrano - Szwarz - Heinen
Beleskey - Kuraly - DeBrusk
Schaller- Nash - Acciari

Defense 

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Postma - Miller

Goalies

Rask
Khudobin