While Bruce Cassidy noted Saturday that he was considering keeping his lineup intact for Monday’s home opener against the Ottawa Senators, the B’s bench boss shuffled up his group once again during Sunday’s morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena.
While the top-six forwards remained intact — with Ryan Donato skating on David Krejci’s right with Jake DeBrusk — Sunday’s third line featured David Backes at the pivot, with Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork on the wing. After rolling out Bjork and Heinen on the fourth line during Thursday’s win over the Sabres, Sunday’s lineup had the usual suspects on the checking line, with Sean Kuraly centering Chris Wagner and Noel Acciari.
Following practice, Cassidy confirmed that Chris Wagner will slot into the lineup Monday after serving as a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Sabres, while also adding that Tuukka Rask will get the start.
#NHLBruins updates per Bruce Cassidy:
Chris Wagner will go in for Joakim Nordstrom.
Tuukka Rask will start. pic.twitter.com/OOk6Axlb5B
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 7, 2018
Rask has not seen game action since Wednesday, when he lasted just over 27 minutes against the Capitals before getting pulled in what was a 7-0 loss.
“I don’t want to get embarrassed again when we play,” Rask said on Saturday of his next outing. “That’s what I’m working on. Start from there. Get out there, get a win, feel good about yourself, and build (on) it. “Every game is a new game. … The mindset doesn’t really change. … Good game or bad game, you (brush) it off right after and move on,” he added. “Get some work done next time you get out there. Try to get a win in your next start. That’s kind of your mindset throughout the year. It doesn’t matter how you play.”
If Sunday’s lines remain the same for Monday’s opener, David Backes will be the latest to step into the revolving door that is the third-line center spot. Kuraly got the nod for Wednesday’s game against the Capitals, while Acciari took over the reins the following night against the Sabres.
Backes is no stranger to the center position, usually skating as the man in the middle during his tenure with the St. Louis Blues — even earning a Selke Trophy nomination in 2012 . Backes also earned first-line center reps during the preseason, taking the spot vacated by an injured Patrice Bergeron during a tuneup against the Red Wings.
Prior to that tilt against Detroit, Backes discussed the possibility at slotting in at center as needed this season.
"This is probably an introduction to that possibility,” Backes said back on Sept. 26. “Maybe it's a shared role, depending on face-off location, left or right -- I'm speculating just like you may be at this point, but I think it's worth, maybe, one more look to see if that's a realistic expectation, because you need to build through the middle and from your backend."
