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Bruins Decline To Name Game Seven Starter

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Rosters for the upcoming World Championships are likely to be revealed in the coming days but Red Wings center Andrew Copp won’t on the one for Team USA, notes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.  Copp decided to decline the offer to let his body heal up, allowing him to be fully healthy heading into training camp.  Although the 28-year-old played in every game this season, he missed training camp due to his recovery from offseason surgery which resulted in a slow start and a quieter-than-expected campaign that saw him score just nine goals.  Clearly, Copp is hoping that a more traditional offseason and a full camp will result in him being more productive in 2023-24.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

  • If the Sabres intend to go with a young goalie tandem next season in Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, veteran Eric Comrie would likely be the odd one out. With that in mind, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News suggests that Buffalo would be wise to re-sign Malcolm Subban this offseason to hedge as insurance in case Comrie is either traded or cleared off waivers.  While there is definitely an upside to carrying two promising youngsters in goal, it stands to reason that they should have at least one veteran in the fold.  Subban had a 2.94 GAA with a .903 SV% in 39 regular season games with Rochester.
  • After a tough showing last night against Florida, some have wondered if Boston might opt to make a goalie change heading into Sunday’s series-deciding game. Speaking with reporters today including Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic (Twitter link), head coach Jim Montgomery declined to say who will get the nod.  Linus Ullmark, the expected Vezina Trophy winner, has allowed 10 goals on 57 shots over the last two games but while they have a more than capable backup in Jeremy Swayman, the 24-year-old has just three minutes of game action since the regular season ended two-and-a-half weeks ago.

Injury Notes: Lomberg, Krejčí

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Boston Globe reporter Matt Porter tweeted that Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters that winger Ryan Lomberg is out for the remainder of their first round series. The 28-year-old suffered an upper body injury in the Panthers 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in game four and hasn’t played since. Lomberg didn’t miss any of the regular season dressing in all 82 games and registering 12 goals and eight assists but has yet to score in four playoff games.

The undrafted Lomberg proved to be a good depth option this year for Florida but spent much of the first round mixing it up in what could be described as more of a pest role. Lomberg had 14 penalty minutes in the Panthers game two win in Boston and became public enemy number one after choking Trent Frederic.

In other injury notes:

Birthday boy David Krejčí appears to be a step closer to returning to the Bruins lineup. Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic tweeted that the center skated in a non-contact jersey during Bruins practice this morning. While it’s a good step for the now 37-year-old, it doesn’t appear as though he will be dressing for game 6 against Florida. Krejčí travelled with the Bruins to Florida but given his jersey color today all signs would point to him needing more time before a return can be possible. However, Porter has also tweeted out that Krejčí will take the pre-game warmups with the club, and that the Bruins are uncertain of his availability.

Krejčí has missed the last three games of the series after being a late scratch for game 3. While the Bruins have missed him centering their second line, Pavel Zacha has been fine in Krejčí’s spot recording two assists in three games.

Injury Notes: Bergeron, Carrier, Lomberg

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Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron will make his 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 5, according to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. The 37-year-old veteran center missed the first four games of the series with an undisclosed injury that was suffered in the Bruins final game of the regular season. The Bruins have held their own without an important piece of their lineup, as they have a 3-1 lead in the series and will look to eliminate the Florida Panthers and be the first team to advance to the second round.

Bergeron scored 27 goals and 58 points in 78 regular season games and is among the best defensive forwards to ever play the game. The Bruins are without center David Krejci, so having Bergeron return fills a huge hole down the middle of the lineup. After winning 65 regular season games, the Bruins are hoping to go on a long playoff run. A healthy Bergeron would go a long way in helping them in their quest for a Stanley Cup this spring.

  • Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports William Carrier is fully healthy and once again a full participant at practice for the Vegas Golden Knights. Carrier has not played since March 3 due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old winger scored 16 goals and 25 points in 56 regular season games for the Golden Knights, giving them scoring from a depth position in their lineup. Carrier will be an option in Game 5 as Vegas looks to eliminate the Winnipeg Jets.
  • Ryan Lomberg will not play Game 5 for the Florida Panthers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Lomberg has played an effective forechecking style using his speed and toughness to win puck battles, though he has been held pointless in the series thus far. The 28 year old had 12 goals and 20 points for the Panthers while playing every regular season game so it is unusual to see him out of the lineup. No official update was given, but Lomberg was hit hard in the face with a cross check in Game 4.

Boston Bruins Recall Kyle Keyser

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The Boston Bruins have recalled goaltender Kyle Keyser from the AHL’s Providence Bruins, reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. Keyser will serve as the team’s third goalie for tonight’s Game 5 against the Florida Panthers.

The 24-year-old Keyser had a solid regular season with Providence in a backup role, posting a 13-6-2 record with a 2.79 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 24 games. He also played two games with the Bruins’ ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners.

While he doesn’t have any NHL experience yet, this is not Keyser’s first recall to the NHL roster. After Boston signed Keyser as an undrafted free agent in October 2017, Keyser later spent time on Boston’s taxi squad during the 2021-22 season.

With the Providence Bruins starting their AHL playoff run soon, the team has opted to swap Keyser and Brandon Bussi on the roster. The move gives the opportunity for Bussi, the starter for most of the season in Providence, to reclaim that role in the playoffs. Keyser will likely stay on Boston’s roster as the third goalie unless injuries strike, necessitating Bussi’s recall.

After signing a one-year extension last summer, Keyser will once again be a restricted free agent on July 1.

Patrice Bergeron Will Be Game-Time Decision, David Krejcí Out For Game 5

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Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron participated in an optional morning skate today and will be a game-time decision tonight, said NBC Sports Boston’s Ty Anderson.

Bergeron, 37, hasn’t suited up in the playoffs, missing four games with an illness and upper-body injury. It hasn’t slowed the Bruins down much, though, as they’re in position to advance to the Second Round tonight with a win in Game 5. The skill and calming presence of Bergeron certainly boosts their chances.

Bruins Return Brandon Bussi To AHL

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  • The Bruins announced that they’ve re-assigned goaltender Brandon Bussi to AHL Providence. The 24-year-old was recalled last week on an emergency basis but didn’t see any game action, instead serving as their emergency netminder.  However, with Providence’s playoff series getting underway on Friday, Boston has sent him back down to get him ready for that series.  Bussi had a 2.40 GAA and a .924 SV% in 32 AHL contests this season.

Boston Bruins Notes: Bergeron, Krejčí

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Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now is reporting that it appears as though center Patrice Bergeron will be dressing in game five for the Boston Bruins. Bergeron has been sidelined for all four of Boston’s first round games against the Florida Panthers after sustaining an injury in the regular season finale against the Montreal Canadiens.

Yesterday both head coach Jim Montgomery and general manager Don Sweeney had stated that Bergeron would likely return to practice Tuesday morning. Bergeron did in fact skate with the team today and led the stretching. After practice he said that he didn’t foresee any issues keeping him from playing in his first game of the playoffs.

Boston will have an opportunity on Wednesday to eliminate the Florida Panthers after taking both games three and four in Florida. The Bruins will return home with an opportunity to punch their ticket to a second-round matchup with either the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In other Boston Bruins notes:

  • While it appears that Bergeron will be returning, Jimmy Murphy tweeted that head coach Jim Montgomery told the media that David Krejčí will be unavailable for game five. Krejčí dressed for the first two games of the series in Boston, but then was a late scratch for game three and hasn’t dressed since. He struggled mightily in game two of the series going -3 and getting beat up in the faceoff circle. Not much is known about Krejčí’s injury and Boston has been tight lipped about it other than to offer updates on his status. NHL.com’s Eric Russo writes that Don Sweeney has said that Krejčí is slated to undergo further testing and an update could come after the team hears from the doctors.

Bruins Notes: Bergeron, Krejčí, Steen

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Conor Ryan of Boston.com tweeted out today that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told the media that Patrice Bergeron will skate with the Bruins tomorrow. Bergeron hasn’t dressed for Boston in these playoffs after suffering an injury in the team’s season finale against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite his absence, the team has jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers. Bergeron has taken more of an advisor role in the first four games of the series but would certainly welcome the opportunity to return to his main role of centering Boston’s first line.

In a separate interview with head coach Jim Montgomery, the first year Bruins head coach hinted that if Bergeron is cleared to play, he would dress in game 5. The Sports Hub writer Ty Anderson tweeted that the if Bergeron was ready to go, he would play and the Bruins wouldn’t prioritize rest, even with a two-game series lead.

Bergeron would bring a wealth of big game experience back into the Bruins lineup should he be cleared to play in game five. Not only that, but Boston would be getting back one of the best two-way centers in the game at a time when the team is dealing with multiple injuries to other key players.

In other Boston Bruins notes:

  • Conor Ryan also tweeted that Don Sweeney doesn’t think David Krejčí will be able to skate with the Bruins tomorrow. Sweeney added that the center was undergoing further testing, which doesn’t point to an imminent return for the 36-year-old. Krejčí is dealing with an upper body injury, although not much more is known about the ailment. He played in the first two games in this series, notching a single assist, but Krejčí struggled badly in game two of the series going -3 in 19:26 of ice time and winning just 42% of the faceoffs he took.
  • The Boston Bruins also announced that they’ve assigned Oskar Steen to Providence of the AHL. The 25-year-old Swede skated in just three games for the Bruins this season, notching a single goal. He hasn’t dressed in any of the Bruins four postseason games against the Florida Panthers. Steen looked like a possible candidate to secure a role in Boston’s bottom six this season, but with the depth in the Bruins forward rank, the numbers game appears to have pushed Steen back into the minors. Steen has been a solid but unspectacular option for Providence this season, putting up 14 goals and 31 points in 64 games.

Matthew Tkachuk Avoids Suspension, Fined For Cross-Checking

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Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been fined the maximum allowable amount of $5,000 under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for a cross-checking incident involving Boston Bruins forward Garnet Hathaway, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at the end of the first period during yesterday’s Game 4 when Tkachuk was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking Hathaway. Given the strength of the check and its placement in a sensitive area on the side of Hathaway’s torso, some felt the play warranted a suspension. Hathaway returned to the game but stayed on the ice in pain after the incident.

It wasn’t the only penalty Tkachuk racked up in what was a physical game. He added another minor penalty for slashing midway through the third period before he was given a 10-minute misconduct for his actions in a scrum with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

It’s a lucky break for the Panthers, who need everything on their side in Game 5 to stave off another early playoff exit. They’ll need Tkachuk’s services to have any hope of doing so, as his physicality and two-way dominance almost single-handedly dragged Florida to a playoff spot this season.

He leads Florida in scoring during the series, registering two goals and three assists in four games.

David Krejci Expected To Miss At Least Two Games

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Center depth for the Boston Bruins will continue to be tested in their opening-round matchup against the Florida Panthers, as Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe reports that Bruins’ center David Krejci will miss Game Four, and will not be expected back for Game Five either. This will be the team’s second straight game without either Patrice Bergeron or Krejci in the lineup.

In the point-scoring category, Krejci and Bergeron were two of Boston’s top centers this season. Scoring a collective 114 points in 148 games, these two veteran leaders sparked the Bruins’ historic run to the President’s Trophy this season. Their defensive attributes should be included as well, as they collectively put together a Defensive Point Share of 4.8.

When discussing the absence of both Bergeron and Krejci, anyone would be remiss if Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle were not brought up in the conversation. So far in this series, Zacha has two assists in the first three games, and Coyle has scored one goal. Both centermen have averaged over 16 minutes a night, showing the rest of the league how deep the Bruins really are.

With a 2-1 lead in the series before the start of Game Four, the Bruins will look to closeout the Panthers over the next couple of games. This would be the best scenario for Boston, moving on to the second round early, and allowing their two veterans to recover fully before their next series.

 

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