Bruins Notebook: B’s react to Babcock firing, Coyle slotting back into top-6 group

The Bruins have a major piece slated to return up front for Thursday’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres — but, of course, the B’s can’t benefit from any reinforcements without feeling the sting of the injury bug once again. 

After missing the previous two games with a nagging lower-body injury, Patrice Bergeron is tabbed as a game-time decision for Thursday’s game, although the B’s center doesn’t expect to spend another night out of the lineup. 

“I felt good this morning, so unless something happens before now and then, I think I’m ready to go,” Bergeron said at Warrior Ice Arena.

While Bergeron will slot back into his usual spot on the top line, Boston’s second line is once again set to be shuffled, as Brett Ritchie will miss another game due to a “flare-up” with an infected elbow that kept him out of action for earlier this season. 

With Ritchie sidelined, Cassidy is going to load up on his top-six by slotting up Charlie Coyle at RW to play with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, while Par Lindholm will center Anders Bjork and Danton Heinen on the third line. 

Coyle is likely best suited for a role as the third-line pivot, but Cassidy noted that the forward’s versatility and Lindholm’s play down the middle made it an easy switch. So far this season, Coyle + Krejci have had plenty of success playing together, with Boston outscoring the competition, 5-0, in their 51:58 of 5v5 TOI together. 

“I liked it,” Cassidy said of Coyle skating at RW. “I thought he was good. A good mix with Krech. Bjork was there on the wing, wasn’t DeBrusk, he was hurt. Listen, for me, Charlie, just keep playing the same way. Be assertive with the puck and attack. Don’t all sit down and defer, because you’re with an experienced center and just play your game. 

“We’ll keep an eye on them. We want to get the best out of him. I think this is a viable option. We’ve talked about doing it at some point. Like I said, you always go back to — I like (Coyle) in the middle. I like him with Heinen and Bjork. They’re terrific the other night. So I’m not in any hurry to break that up. But that will beat moving Lindholm to the wing … The easiest way to stay consistent would probably be keeping Lindholm in the middle and move Coyle to the right wing, because he’s been there before.”

B’s react to Babcock firing: 

After a plummeting Maple Leafs team fell to 9-10-4 on Tuesday night, Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas finally pulled the trigger on the inevitable, firing head coach Mike Babcock after four-plus seasons on the job.

Tasked with reviving the Original Six franchise, Babcock helped lead a rebuilding Toronto roster to back-to-back 100-point campaigns in 2018 and 2019 — only to come up short against the Bruins in the first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs each year. 

After this poor start with a roster focused on championship aspirations, Babcock was finally sacked — with Sheldon Keefe, the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies — taking over as head coach. 

“I hate to see that happen to anybody, to be honest with you,” Cassidy said of Babcock’s firing. “I’ve been on that side and it’s a humbling game in that regard. But other than that, I don’t know the ins and outs of the Toronto situation. We’ve always had a good rivalry with them, I expect that to continue. And I wish Mike the best. He’s a great coach so I’m sure he’ll land on his feet and do well on his next assignment. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Bergeron, who was coached by Babcock during gold-medal victories for Team Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, echoed Cassidy’s thoughts when it came to the former Toronto bench boss. 

“Obviously a great coach that people have lots of respect for," Bergeron said. "He’s done it all in his career. … I’ve learned from all of my coaches and from him, personally. Obviously, he’ll be back on his feet pretty quickly. … Obviously you don’t know the circumstances, so I’m not going to comment on that. But for me, personally, I only have good things to say about him.”

OTHER INJURY NEWS:

Torey Krug (upper-body) skated with the main group today at Warrior, donning a red, non-contact sweater. There’s a chance that he could return this weekend against Minnesota.  John Moore also skated in a non-contact jersey. 

David Backes — who has not skated since Nov. 2 after suffering an upper-body injury (likely a concussion) during a collision with Ottawa’s Scott Sabourin — skated following the main group at Warrior. 

Karson Kuhlman, set to be re-evaluated in four weeks after breaking a bone in his leg in late October, is expected to be out longer than that, based on Cassidy’s comments on Thursday.

"The original injury, he had to go back for another MRI,” Cassidy said. “It wasn’t great news for him. So he’s going to continue to be in the boot he was in or whatever it is, the cast.”