TAMPA, Fla. -- Bruins forward David Backes suffered a laceration above his right knee and needed several stitches during Saturday's 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. The injury occurred at 19:39 of the first period and he did not return.
It's been an interesting couple of weeks for Backes. After serving a three-game suspension, he did not receive any further discipline from the NHL's department of player safety for his match penalty during Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.
His hit on the Panthers' Vincent Trocheck was not deemed a hit to the head, so Backes will be in the lineup tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Actually, when he arrived at the rink today for the optional morning skate, he didn't spot his name on the lineup board and thought he was a healthy scratch. In fact, Bruce Cassidy decided the veteran forward will center the team's top line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. During Patrice Bergeron's absence due to a broken foot, Riley Nash has centered the top line and has done well in that role.
"Backs is fresh right now and Riley's played a lot of hockey," Cassidy said. "Maybe get Backs a little motivated to be up there and he'll probably see (Tampa's) top line, so we'll see how he responds to that. It's just a small tweak and it may give David (Pastrnak) a few more looks offensively as well."
Once Backes realized where he would be playing against the Lightning, he admitted it gave him a little boost.
"Energizing, knowing you're going to play a lot of minutes, playing against their top-pair defensemen and their top line, so it's going to be a big challenge tonight," Backes said. "Like we've done it all year, we're going to hit it head on, embrace that challenge and we have good players on this team and I'm playing with two really good ones."
Observations from he first period.
- Not a good start for the Bruins' top line.
- What a play by Torey Krug and Pastrnak finishes with a goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Solid job by Tommy Wingels to win the puck battle along the wall just inside the O-zone blue line. It's Pasta's 28th of the season.
- Wingels having an impact early.
- Bruins D-men pinching a lot already in this game.
- I'm a big fan of Steve Stamkos, but it's not wise for him to pick a fight with Kevan Miller.
- Bruins getting their first PP of the game.
- And Boston capitalizes on the man-advantage as Backes scores to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. I did not expect this type of game in the early going.
- Victor Hedman is a big, strong man. Just ask Marchand.
- Bruins creating offensive layers and it's been effective.
- That did not look good for Backes. Appears to be cut by a skate blade from Yannie Gourde at 19:39 of the period.
- Backes is not on the bench to start the period. Riley Nash is back centering the top line.
- During an intermission interview on 98.5, Krug said Backes was cut and there was a lot of blood. Described it as scary.
- An injury like that can rattle a team, but the Bruins are holding their ground with a two-goal lead.
- Untimely penalty for Brandon Carlo. Tampa getting its first power play of the game.
- Given the fact that the Bruins are another man down after the Backes injury, that's a big penalty kill for Boston.
- Bad turnover by Krejci and Rask makes a save to bail out his teammate.
- Gionta draws a high-sticking penalty. Sold it pretty well.
- Riley Nash, who replaced Backes on the power play, scores to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.
- Two huge blocked shots by Adam McQuaid on this Tampa power play.
- Another untimely penalty for Carlo. This time the Bruins' just killed off a penalty and he's heading back to the box.
- Carlo's fortunate his teammates have killed off both of his penalties.
- Bruins announce that Backes suffered a laceration above his right knee requiring several stitches. He's resting and will not return to tonight's game.
- Alex Killorn just had an open net and missed. Bad puck luck for the Lightning tonight.
- McQuaid is a shot-blocking machine tonight. He's playing well.
- Boston's overall defense has been the difference in this game.