The Bruins expect to make some adjustments to line-up in Game 3 after the Hurricanes applied the 1-1 draw each in the 3-2 loss Thursday night in the Toronto bubble at Scotiabank Arena.
Bruce Cassidy said the Bs have some banged-up players who also need to be intervened, but it sounds like he was looking to go a little smaller and faster with his squad to counter some of the speed and aggressive pressure Hurricanes hit them.
‘We thought it through. There are always big bumps and barks, but we will make changes both forward and around [defense]. Some of that gets some energy in the lineup and changes the look of our forward squad, “said Bruce Cassidy of his Game 3 lineup vs. the Hurricanes.
“In general [Anders Bjork] did what he could with his skill set to help that line. No one will replace Pastrnak, but if guys can step in and complement Bergeron and Marchand and help them commit some crime, then they’ve done a good job. [Bjork] maybe not back there, but I do not think that is the reason we feel a goal short [in Game 2]. ”
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Cassidy said he “expects” Rask to start Game 3 on Saturday afternoon and that David Pastrnak “could possibly play” as a game-time decision after not practicing with small optional group on Friday.
Ideally, the Bs would like Pastrnak to test the injury in practice before attempting to give it a go in a game, but they will not get this chance with a midday start on Saturday after the 24-year-old Pasta estimates Friday .
“There were some good goals and good savings, but in those one-goal goals, every goalkeeper has to save one more along the way. [if they hope to win], “Said Cassidy of Rask, who has a ‘meh’ .899 save percentage and a 3.00 goal-versus-average in two games against Carolina.
‘We didn’t have it and they did, and the opposite was the game before. I think [Rask’s] game can grow like all our games. The goalkeeper’s position is probably a bit harder to get to the speed with not much room for error.
“All the goals that come back are all in the same position. Hopefully he will be better [in Game 3] and we will be better to him. ‘
The bet here to the extent that the lineup changes? One would expect Nick Ritchie to come out after being a non-factor in Game 2 with just 10:45 ice time, and Jeremy Lauzon even after he played just 13:16 of the ice time and took an early undisciplined penalty shootout to Carolina players after a clean slate that landed on Karson Kuhlman.
If Pastrnak can not play Game 3 and the fast, responsible Kuhlman remains in the lineup that could open up an opportunity for rookie Jack Studnicka to play right wing on the first or third line, with Anders Bjork following his natural left swings.
Studnicka is the only player the Bruins have under their current reserves that could really make a significant offensive effect with the kind of top where the 21-year-old could be a difference maker in a possible single-goal game . That it would make sense for the child to get the call if the Bruins are looking for energy and get a little offended by Pastrnak’s skill set that may be missing in the Game 3 lineup.
Studnicka played in the first game of the round robin and did not do much more than some nice hustle games on the back check, but it is quite clear that he has skill over 6 skills and goals.
On defense, it may be time for Cliffy Hockey and Connor Clifton, after playing a gruesome, agitating game in the final round against the Washington Capitals. Clifton could play a role similar to the one that Haydn Fleury played very well for the Hurricanes as a D-man who was not afraid to physically stir things up against the Bruins.
