The Boston Bruins continue to develop their roster, with Coach Jim Montgomery exploring various line combinations beyond the first line. This Saturday, they will face the Los Angeles Kings at 1 p.m., a game that may see the return of Matt Poitras, who is considered a “possibility” to play if he responds well to Friday’s practice.
During practice, Poitras was positioned as the center of a line with Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau, and he led the team in stretching, a typical sign for players returning from injury. If the 20-year-old Poitras returns, he would boost the third line with his skill, marking his first game since a shoulder injury sidelined him after 33 games in his rookie season.
Poitras expressed his eagerness to get back into meaningful games, noting that preseason games, while helpful, do not match the intensity of regular season matches. Originally a candidate for the AHL at the start of training camp, Poitras earned his roster spot with a strong showing before his injury.
Montgomery praised Poitras’s puck possession and support skills but noted that he must improve his defensive checking speed to make a complete transition to offense. After extensive rehabilitation and strength training over the offseason, Poitras has added muscle to his 5-foot-11 frame, feeling stronger and more confident on the ice.
He remarked on the advantages of playing alongside larger teammates like the 6-foot-5 Brazeau and the 6-foot-3 Frederic, who can help maintain puck possession in corners, enabling him to find open ice more easily.
In other team developments, practices suggest that Mason Lohrei might return to a defensive pairing with Andrew Peeke. The second line of Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Morgan Geekie, while energetic, has yet to score, and Montgomery is still assessing their performance. He believes it’s early to make definitive evaluations but has seen promising signs.
Additionally, the Bruins have placed defenseman Ian Mitchell on waivers.