LOS ANGELES -- The Bruins received a bit of good news when Bruce Cassidy announced that veteran forward David Krejci will return to the lineup tonight against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.
His presence makes a huge difference. As a result, the Bruins finished with a 2-1 victory to snap a four-game losing skid. He missed 11 games with a back injury. He's centered Jake DeBrusk and Peter Cehlarik.
"Well, he's a world-class centerman," Cassidy said of Krejci's return. "Now, we have 1A and 1B in the lineup. We have to guard against expecting too much in his first game back after missing time. There's a little bit of catchup involved. We understand that but it's still nice to have him. This is, hopefully, the first step of a healthy return to the lineup and a productive one for us."
Torey Krug, who exited Wednesday's game late in the third period and did not return, was out with a upper-body injury and he's listed as day-to-day.
"He didn't respond as well as we'd like today, so he's out and we'll see where he is (Friday)," Cassidy said.
Anton Khudobin was solid once again for the Bruins. He finished with 27 saves to improve his record to 4-0-2.
"We understand the situation and we need a win," Cassidy said. "We need points. It's frustrating we don't get them. We're trying to piece together 60 minutes, and our goaltender can go a long way to helping us through stretches when we're off a little. We've got to correct that internally as a team, but that's what goaltenders are paid off and we need that. Dobby's given us that and every time he's been in there he's given us points, so that's a positive for him and we're going to need that tonight."
Since the Bruins are down to six healthy defensemen, the team will wait and see Krug's status before deciding whether or not to call someone up from Providence for Saturday's game agains the Sharks in San Jose.
Earlier in the day, the Bruins placed forwards Brad Marchand and Anders Bjork on injured reserve.
Matt Beleskey was a healthy scratch.
Observations from the third period
- Having Krejci back in the lineup makes a huge difference. His ability to slow the game down is needed. Plus, the Bruins usually start with the puck when he's on the ice after a faceoff.
- Smart decision by Kevan Miller not to drop the gloves right there.
- Can the Bruins hang on? We shall see.
- Danton Heinen's heads-up saucer pass resulted in Boston's second goal of the game. Zdeno Chara was credited with the goal but the puck was redirected in by Kings' Trevor Lewis. On the ensuing shift, Heinen with two strong defensive plays to stifle quality scoring chances for the Kings. It also bailed out Chara, who mishandled the puck.
- Bruins are doing a much better job of clearing rebounds in front of their own net. It's been an issue of late.
- Two penalties for Patrice Bergeron in the second period.
- Noel Acciari is playing one hell of a game.
- I like that response by the Bruins after that clean hit on Heinen, but it shouldn't be Bergeron to jump in there. Maybe that will send a message to the others. And, with the Bruins' best penalty killer in the box, the Kings respond and capitalize with a power-play goal to tie the game at 1-1. Drew Doughty with a perfectly placed wrister to beat Khudobin high glove.
- Charlie McAvoy is on the ice to start the second period. He went to the room in the closing seconds of the first in some discomfort after blocking a pair of shots.
- The Kings were credited with 21 hits in the first period. I find that hard to believe. If so that only means they spent a lot of time without the puck.
- In the closing seconds of the period, McAvoy blocked a pair of shots and was in some discomfort when he went to the bench. He eventually went to the room with trainer Don Del Negro.
- Brandon Carlo needs something good to go his way. Another penalty.
- McAvoy with a beautiful goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. It's his second goal of the season. Not sure what Kings' Tanner Pearson was doing on that faceoff, allowing McAvoy to walk right in and beat Jonathan Quick with a backhander.
- Chara needs to start making better decisions with the puck.
- Krejci hasn't lost his touch on the faceoff dot.
- DeBrusk playing with energy again tonight. That healthy scratch worked so far.
- McAvoy rushing the puck again tonight. It's good to see. Sets up a Bergeron scoring chance.