close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Bruins Blue Jackets Projected Lines, Pairings: Key defenseman returns
news

Bruins Blue Jackets Projected Lines, Pairings: Key defenseman returns

The Bruins look to snap a two-game skid as they continue their three-game homestand Monday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Boston suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blues on Saturday afternoon after beating St. Louis on the road at the Enterprise Center last Tuesday.

The Bruins get a boost on the blueline with Andrew Peeke returning from an upper-body injury suffered during Boston’s game with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 5.

The Black and Gold will be without two-thirds of their fourth line, with Cole Koepke a healthy scratch for the game, and Mark Kastelic, who left Saturday’s loss with an injury, will be sidelined this evening. The Bruins recalled forward Jeffrey Viel from Providence. The veteran has two goals and two assists in 14 games this season and will make his Bruins debut.

Jeremy Swayman will get the nod for the Bruins between the pipes and Columbus will get Elvis Merzlikins the start.

Story continues below ad

Puck drop for Monday’s Bruins-Blue Jackets game at TD Garden is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET, and you can watch full coverage on NESN after an hour of pregame.

Here are the projected lines and defensive combinations for both sides.

BOSTON BRUINS (8-8-3)
Morgan Geekie – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Elias Lindholm-Justin Brazeau
Georgii Merkulov – Charlie Coyle – Trent Frederic
Jeffrey Viel-John Beecher-Tyler Johnson

Nikita Zadorov-Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei-Brandon Carlo
Jordan Oesterle-Andrew Peeke

Story continues below ad

Jeremy Swayman

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (6-9-2)
Dmitri Voronkov – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko
Cole Sillinger – Adam Fantilli – Yegor Chinakhov
Mikael Pyyhtia – Justin Danforth – Mathieu Olivier
Zachary Aston-Reese – Sean Kuraly – Kevin Labanc

Zach Werenski-Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen-Jordan Harris

Elvis Merzlikins

Story continues below ad