2019-2020 Bruins

TheRealness

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Looking like Studnicka will be the 2nd line RW. I, for one, like this.
I am curious as to how it shakes out. You would imagine that Bjork, Ritchie, Kuraly, Studnicka and Kuhlman are in line for the wing spots with Coyle and Krejci's RW. Studnicka as a rookie on the 2nd line seems less likely to me, but I haven't been at practice. Kuraly may be on the 4th line with Lindholm and Wagner, but could also play 3rd line LW and Nordstrom plays the 4th line. If Kuraly plays 3rd line LW, I think the assumption is the 4th line is Nordstrom-Lindholm-Wagner, leaving Ritchie to play with Coyle/Kuraly, and one of Bjork/Kuhlman/Studnicka to play RW on the 2nd line. I would give Bjork a significant advantage there.

As it stands, I would likely do this assuming Studnicka is up to it:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Studnicka
Bjork-Coyle-Ritchie
Kuraly-Lindholm-Wagner

Kase sits out the first few round robing games, and once ready, probably pushes Studnicka to the bench.
 

RedOctober3829

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I am curious as to how it shakes out. You would imagine that Bjork, Ritchie, Kuraly, Studnicka and Kuhlman are in line for the wing spots with Coyle and Krejci's RW. Studnicka as a rookie on the 2nd line seems less likely to me, but I haven't been at practice. Kuraly may be on the 4th line with Lindholm and Wagner, but could also play 3rd line LW and Nordstrom plays the 4th line. If Kuraly plays 3rd line LW, I think the assumption is the 4th line is Nordstrom-Lindholm-Wagner, leaving Ritchie to play with Coyle/Kuraly, and one of Bjork/Kuhlman/Studnicka to play RW on the 2nd line. I would give Bjork a significant advantage there.

As it stands, I would likely do this assuming Studnicka is up to it:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Studnicka
Bjork-Coyle-Ritchie
Kuraly-Lindholm-Wagner

Kase sits out the first few round robing games, and once ready, probably pushes Studnicka to the bench.
If I am remembering correctly, Bjork was mostly playing on the first line and Studnicka on the second line. However, Studnicka also took a few shifts with Marchand and Bergeron as well. Bjork has more experience as an NHL player, but Studnicka provides more of an offensive threat. I would fully expect Cassidy to tinker during the 4 games before the playoffs, but Studnicka would be my pick to play with Krejci and DeBrusk.
 

cshea

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We'll get a better idea after practice today, but I think Kuhlman plays over Studnicka. More experience in general and has playing time with Krejci under his belt.

Another thing to keep an eye on is Nick Ritchie's status. He hasn't practiced is almost a week and won't practice today. I'm assuming he's dealing with some kind of an injury since they let him on the plane.
 

cshea

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Studnicka got more time today on the 2nd line. I suspect we'll see him play there on Thursday against Columbus, though I'm not sold that'll be the way they go when the games start counting on Sunday. Part of the reason Senyshyn made the roster over Blidh is the depth and question marks on RW with Kase unavailable and Ritchie a mystery as well. Chara missed today's practice due to not having a result from yesterday's test. D is pretty much set in stone, they haven't really deviated from where they ended the season at. 33-73, 47-25, 48-79 Lauzon is 6th D to start.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Studnicka
Kuraly - Coyle - Bjork/Kuhlman
Nordstrom - Lindholm - Wagner
Frederic/Senyshyn

I'm not a huge fan of Kuraly on the 3rd line. He's a bit of a black hole offensively. I'd much rather have Bjork and Kuhlman/Ritchie on Coyle's wings. Kuraly can be a difference maker on the 4th line. His return really helped turn around the Leafs series 2 years ago.

Grzelyck - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Moore - Lauzon
Vaakanainen - Clifton

Rask
Halak

The goalies are obviously set but I'm curious to see how Cassidy manages them. He's already said Halak will play in the round robin. It also sounds like using both goalies in the playoffs is a real possibility. With no travel there could be a lot less time off between games, so it may not be ride or die with Rask the whole way. I think it's a strategy that can work but I also think it's a tough needle to thread. Cassidy would have to have a hot hand in picking goalies.
 

RedOctober3829

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Studnicka got more time today on the 2nd line. I suspect we'll see him play there on Thursday against Columbus, though I'm not sold that'll be the way they go when the games start counting on Sunday. Part of the reason Senyshyn made the roster over Blidh is the depth and question marks on RW with Kase unavailable and Ritchie a mystery as well. Chara missed today's practice due to not having a result from yesterday's test. D is pretty much set in stone, they haven't really deviated from where they ended the season at. 33-73, 47-25, 48-79 Lauzon is 6th D to start.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Studnicka
Kuraly - Coyle - Bjork/Kuhlman
Nordstrom - Lindholm - Wagner
Frederic/Senyshyn

I'm not a huge fan of Kuraly on the 3rd line. He's a bit of a black hole offensively. I'd much rather have Bjork and Kuhlman/Ritchie on Coyle's wings. Kuraly can be a difference maker on the 4th line. His return really helped turn around the Leafs series 2 years ago.

Grzelyck - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
Moore - Lauzon
Vaakanainen - Clifton

Rask
Halak

The goalies are obviously set but I'm curious to see how Cassidy manages them. He's already said Halak will play in the round robin. It also sounds like using both goalies in the playoffs is a real possibility. With no travel there could be a lot less time off between games, so it may not be ride or die with Rask the whole way. I think it's a strategy that can work but I also think it's a tough needle to thread. Cassidy would have to have a hot hand in picking goalies.
I think the only ways Halak plays in the playoffs is injury or Rask completely sucking and down 0-2 or something.
 

RedOctober3829

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David Pastrnak finally returned to Bruins practice Monday after missing all but one day of the team's Phase 3 practices in Brighton.

On Tuesday, Pastrnak spoke with the media via Zoom for the first time since returning to North America from the Czech Republic, where he spent the last few months.

Pastrnak didn't elaborate much on why his quarantine extended well beyond the initial 14 days for players returning from overseas, but he did confirm that he had to go back into quarantine after practicing at a rink in Malden before rejoining the Bruins at Warrior Ice Arena.

Photos on social media showed Pastrnak and teammate Ondrej Kase, who has still not been cleared to join the team in Toronto yet, practicing with non-NHLers, which was a violation of the NHL's return-to-play protocols.
Confirmation of what our moles knew a while ago. Good info, guys!!

https://weei.radio.com/blogs/scott-mclaughlin/david-pastrnak-confirms-reason-for-extended-quarantine?fbclid=IwAR1dYphb1Qu4ZHUIxohimzMaLp5l1IUB5nLiVDA2FVs_EhQvNDkme2j80Jc
 

cshea

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Pastrnak essentially had to quarantine for 28 days. 14 when he got back to Boston from the Czech Republic and then another 14 after the Malden fiasco. He apologized for that. Not sure when the clock started on quarantine 2 since it's been less than 14 days since his 1 session cameo at Warrior. Maybe they were able to retro it back to the date he was in Malden since he presumably tested negative before hopping on the ice with the team. Either way, he's back and I'm sure he'll get up to speed with with Marchand and Bergy quickly. Cassidy said he would give Pasta an "excellent grade" for Monday's practice, but he's unsure if Pasta will play on Thursday.

Chara should be back at practice today. Still no Ritchie. So the deadline guys are both unlikely to play in the round robin.
 

RedOctober3829

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Fluto in his column says that Cassidy will go with the following for lines on Thursday. Cassidy said he talks to Krejci about who he likes on his right side and says he really likes Jack. Also says while Kuhlman is a solid player, Studnicka gives them more offensive upside. Also says Bjork has the leg up on Nick Ritchie. He didn't say anything about the 4th line, so I'm assuming it's status quo.

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Studnicka
Kuraly-Coyle-Bjork
Nordstrom-Lindholm-Wagner
 

The Mort Report

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I don’t like the fact the Pasta thinks because he didn’t get sick he didn’t do anything wrong. I would hope someone from the team would read/hear that quote and sit him down and explain how the virus works, that those kind of actions put the whole team at risk and why he can’t be doing anything but strictly following the protocol in Toronto
 

cshea

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The Bruins had the day off today so no real updates. Cam spoke this morning but didn't have any update on Marchand. We'll probably know more tomorrow.

After last night, I think Studnicka and Kuhlman should play to start.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
DeBrusk - Krejci - Studnicka
Bjork - Coyle - Kuhlman
Kuraly - Lindholm - Wagner

I think that's their best lineup with the available personnel. Studnicka looked ready to me, and also had a strong cameo way back in the regular season. He needs to shoot more, but he looked like he belonged and can hang with Krejci. I'd play him in the 3 round robin games and then re-evaluate, things can go sideways in a hurry when the postseason starts.

I'm a bit indifferent on the 4th line. I think Kuraly's playoff resume means he should play but I don't really have much of a preference on Lindholm, Nordstrom and Wagner. Wagner has the highest offensive potential of the three, so I left him in there. Kuraly seems to be playing better at wing than C so I kept Lindholm in the middle which means Nordstrom is my odd man out.

Hopefully Ritchie and Kase can get some action in during the round robin. Ritchie's got most of summer camp in before going MIA the last few days. He was back skating yesterday so he may be able to hop in fairly quick, maybe Wednesday's game? Last update on Kase was Sweeney saying on Tuesday that Kase should be joining them soon. Not sure if that means joining them in Toronto and starting the 4 day quarantine or if he's already there and his 4-days is coming to an end.
 

cshea

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Bruce benched Studnicka in the 3rd period, so it's not that surprising that Studnicka is out. They have to take someone out with Ritchie returning and I don't really see any other option. I suppose Kuhlman but Kuhlman was better than Studnicka on Sunday.
 

cshea

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I'm guessing/hoping it is load management. There's going to be less time off between games than normal, so getting these guys some extra rest isn't a bad idea. Especially Bergy and his never ending groin problems.
 

Haunted

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Is that basically code for "the test results didn't come back yet but they're fine"?
 

cshea

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Either that or they checked something off on the questionnaire. Rask missed the Flyers game because he had checked off that he had a cough so that triggered a 2-day quarantine where he has to test negative twice before being freed.
 

cshea

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League never said a peep about Goodrow Cookeing Bjork, right? Nice league we have here. Did player safety not make it to the bubble?
 

veritas

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I really don't understand why Nordstrom isn't the 13th forward. IMO, he's obviously not as good at hockey as the other 12 guys.
 

tonyandpals

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Game 1 — Tuesday, Aug. 11: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 2 — Thursday, Aug. 13: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 3 — Saturday, Aug. 15: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, noon (NBC)
Game 4 — Monday, Aug. 17: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Wednesday, Aug. 19: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, TBD (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Thursday, Aug. 20: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, TBD (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Sunday, Aug. 23: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, TBD (TBD)

Am I correct that every game that will be on NESN will be blacked out on NBCSN over services like HULU Live? I'd need a service that actually has NESN for that (youtubeTV) right?
 

Dummy Hoy

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Game 1 — Tuesday, Aug. 11: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 2 — Thursday, Aug. 13: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 3 — Saturday, Aug. 15: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, noon (NBC)
Game 4 — Monday, Aug. 17: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, 8 p.m. (NESN, NBCSN)
Game 5 (if necessary) — Wednesday, Aug. 19: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, TBD (TBD)
Game 6 (if necessary) — Thursday, Aug. 20: Bruins vs. Hurricanes, TBD (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary) — Sunday, Aug. 23: Hurricanes vs. Bruins, TBD (TBD)

Am I correct that every game that will be on NESN will be blacked out on NBCSN over services like HULU Live? I'd need a service that actually has NESN for that (youtubeTV) right?
I believe so...time a 7 day free trial to Fubo.tv.
 

RIFan

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League never said a peep about Goodrow Cookeing Bjork, right? Nice league we have here. Did player safety not make it to the bubble?
Totally filthy hit that shouldn’t be judged solely on the basis of end result. If the round robin and play in games are any more indication it will take a severe injury to get their attention. Nary a peep about the number of cross checks and boardings sending someone head first into the dasher.
An added bonus is that they must have forgot to designate a concussion spotter and quiet room. Barzal not missing a shift after getting helped off the ice was a joke.
Buckle up for the real playoffs.
 

Haunted

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YTTV is $65/month now. It's ok, but honestly I'll be cancelling the very second the NHL season is over.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Keep him out and make sure he's fully recovered. They would have had the 'Canes with Svechnikov--without him, they're toast.