Bruins Notebook: Cassidy overhauls Boston's lineup in search of spark; waiting game continues for Rask

With Boston looking to shake off a miserable result agains the Penguins Thursday night, Bruce Cassidy did one of the few things he could do to with a roster that is still significantly shorthanded due to both injuries and COVID-19 protocols — put it in a blender.

On Friday morning, Boston's lone practice ahead of a matinee rematch with the Pens on Saturday, the B's bench boss tinkered with all four of his forward lines. The move was headlined by the often-discussed tactic of slotting a slumping David Pastrnak down to David Krejci's line, while bumping up Craig Smith up with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

While you'd be hard-pressed to find a winger that wouldn't thrive next to 37+63, Smith's shot-first style and strong play along the boards should especially compliment Boston's star forwards — with Boston holding a 24-12 edge in shot attempts and 18-8 advantage in shots on goal during the 18:54 of ice time where a Marchand-Bergeron-Smith trio has been deployed.

As for Pastrnak, the results have been quite disappointing when he's been paired with another playmaking pivot in Krejci — with Boston outscored, 2-0, in the 56:25 of 5v5 ice time where he's skated with Boston's regular 2C. Still, it seems rather evident than a shake-up is needed, or at the very least, a temporary demotion is warranted given Pastrnak's play of late.

Things get interesting on the third line, with Sean Kuraly expected to take to the ice for the first time since March 16 after spending a few weeks on the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol List. But rather than skate on the wing, the speedy forward will slot in at 3C — with the traditional pivot in Charlie Coyle taking over at right wing. While a bit unorthodox given Coyle's usual preference down the middle, Cassidy believes such a switch might



help Coyle adjust his game and adopt a much more simplified, shot-first mentality when operating in the O-zone. It could be what Coyle needs in the short term, given that he's tallied just five goals in 32 games this season — including none in his last 13 games.

"We've always said it around here, we feel we're at our best when all four of our centers that we've played with over the years here are at the top of their game — driving a line, playing their role," Cassidy said. So, right now Charlie offensively has gone to the net well, helped in some goal scoring situations by being at the top of the crease, he just hasn't generated off the stick as much as he would like, or we would like. So putting them to the wing, maybe he's getting pucks in different places. Coming off the wing, you're usually in attack mode, especially if you have a step on the D. You can be first on the forecheck a little more without as much in the back your mind with defensive responsibility, especially playing with a guy like Sean that likes to play down low.

"So just frees you up a little more. You're getting pucks in different places, you have to be better on the wall, you're more confined space, more stopping and starting probably. So there's always adjustments ... He understands why we do it. And he knows how it'll affect his game and change the offensive dynamic and the defensive for that matter. And how it could help them, so hopefully it translates into a little more action at the net for him. They got Bjork on the other side who has got good speed. He's got to get heavier on pucks in his situations, and then you got a line I think that that can check well, skate well, they all kill penalties, you got two guys that can take draws and should be able to play against anybody."

Jack Studnicka is expected to center a fourth line next to Trent Frederic and either Zach Senyshyn or Chris Wagner, while Kevan Miller took part in practice and skated alongside Jeremy Lauzon.

Here is the full lineup from Friday's practice:

Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Ritchie - Krejci - Pastrnak
Bjork - Kuraly - Coyle
Frederic - Studnicka - Senyshyn/Wagner

Grzelcyk - McAvoy
Lauzon - Miller
Zboril - Kampfer
Tinordi - Clifton

Halak
Vladar
Booth

Carlo, Miller out Saturday

After exiting Thursday after one period of play due to an upper-body injury, Brandon Carlo did not practice on Friday, but Cassidy did note that the stay-at-home defenseman was at the B's training facility that morning.

“He was in this morning but will not play (Saturday)," Cassidy said of Carlo. "We’ll list him as day-to-day for now. Upper-body. Hopefully we get a good timeline on that.”

As for Miller, taking part in a full practice on Friday was a major step in the right direction, but the veteran skater won't be cleared in time for Saturday's matinee against the Pens.

"Miller, no (he won’t play Saturday). Not that quick," Cassidy said. "But ask me again on Monday. He’s getting closer, but he will not play (Saturday).”

Rask still getting treatment for upper-body injury

While Carlo's injury stands as a major cause for concern on an already decimated D corps, the ailment afflicting Tuukka Rask might be what ultimately decides the course of this 2021 season for the B's. After missing six games last month after appearing to tweak something in his back, Rask returned to game action on Thursday, March 25 against the Islanders — but only lasted one period of play before leaving with another upper-body injury.

Since then, it's been largely radio silence when it comes to Rask's return to the ice, as he's yet to take part in a practice since exiting that game against New York.

"You always ask if he's here getting some treatments — just hasn't respond as well as anybody likes," Cassidy said of trying to get a gauge on how long Rask will be out. "Sometimes when you're given a definitive 'Hey, this guy is out for X amount of time or he had surgery' — this or that, it's a little easier to put behind you. But when it's kind of a day-to-day thing where players here are getting treatment, then you ask a little more. Similar to Kevan, he was doing his treatment, skating and there wasn't a definitive timeline. ... Am I biting my fingernails off over it? No.

"Vladdy is getting opportunities, played well. I thought he held us in the game early yesterday. Certainly has given us a chance to win every game he's played and has won two of them. Jaro is as advertised to me. I think he's played well for the most part. A couple of bad periods here or there over the stretch of games he's played — I think that's very normal. So no, I'm not uncomfortable, whoever we put out there. Tuukka is your number one and you do wonder when can we expect him — and you just don't get an answer for that. So that's what you're up against. ... But I think there's some other areas of our game that I've been focusing on and we need to focus on and goaltending overall has been solid."