Bruins lineup: David Backes still out, bottom-6 shuffled again ahead of matchup with Ottawa taken at BSJ Headquarters (Bruins)

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Bruins lineup: David Backes still out, bottom-6 shuffled again ahead of matchup with Ottawa

By Conor Ryan

Oct 22, 2018 • 3:48 pm

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It’s looking like reinforcements aren’t on the way quite yet for the Boston Bruins.

The Black and Gold practiced Monday ahead of the final tilt in their four-game road trip out to Canada, with Bruce Cassidy once again shuffling up his lines — while trying to plug in the holes left by a trio of injured skaters.

Both Kevan Miller and Charlie McAvoy — sent back to Boston over the weekend to undergo further evaluation for a hand injury and undisclosed issue, respectively, were not back with the team on Monday, while David Backes was also absent after being tabbed as a late scratch in Saturday’s game against the Canucks. The reason Backes missed the matchup against the Canucks was that the veteran forward was “not feeling well,” per a team release.

With three regulars still out, Boston will rely on both Urho Vaakanainen and Stephen Kampfer to fill in for McAvoy and Miller for the second game in a row, while Cassidy slotted Joakim Nordstrom in at third-line center to replace Backes.

While Nordstrom slotted in at center during Saturday’s game against Vancouver, his linemates were a bit different during Monday’s practice, with Anders Bjork and Chris Wagner skating on the wing.

The fourth line featured the usual suspects in Noel Acciari and Sean Kuraly, with Ryan Donato skating on the left wing.

Vaakanainen, who was a minus-1 in 12:26 of TOI Saturday, should fare a bit better after having a hectic trip out west due to his emergency call-up earlier that day.

“(Friday) night when I got back from Bridgeport I slept like an hour, then I slept the first flight to Toronto so it was like an hour and a half, then at the hotel (in Vancouver) I took a couple hours nap,” Vaakanainen said, adding: “I didn't really sleep, I had like three naps, that's pretty much it.”

Here’s a full look at the Bruins’ lineup, based on Monday’s practice.




BSJ Analysis:






The top concern for Backes has to be his history with concussions, especially with the forward getting knocked out of the first period of Thursday’s matchup with the Oilers off of a high hit from
Matt Benning
.


When it comes to the blue line, it will be interesting to note how far away
Torey Krug
is after suffering an ankle injury during the team’s preseason finale. Krug was set to be evaluated three weeks after the injury, with Cassidy noting last week that his power-play QB was
and started skating at Warrior Ice Arena this week. Cassidy even mentioned Monday that Krug could have joined the B’s in Ottawa, but was sidelined due to travel issues. 


Along with relieving a banged-up defense — even if he’s another left-shot D on a crowded side with
Zdeno Chara, John Moore, 
Matt Grzelcyk
 — Krug’s return should help solve a slumping power play that’s gone 0-for-10 so far on this road trip.


While Nordstrom seems poised to slot in for Backes on the third line tomorrow, it will be interesting to see if Boston opts to bring up a Providence skater, especially a natural center. While
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
and
Trent Frederic
just missed out on a starting spot during the preseason, center
Colby Cave
could get a call after a strong start (five goals in six games).


Donato seems like a bit of an odd fit on the fourth line, and it will be interesting to see if perhaps the sniper might get a short stint down in Providence in order to get going and earn regular, top-six reps.

Even with a dynamic shot, Donato hasn’t done much over the past week, earning just 5:27 of TOI during 5-on-5 play Saturday while posting a rough
15.38 Corsi For Percentage in 7:33 of 5-on-5 play Thursday against Edmonton.


After sitting out for two straight games, it will be interesting to see if
Tuukka Rask
will get the nod against the Senators, even if Cassidy noted that a decision has yet to be made.

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