SALT LAKE CITY – The Boston Bruins conclude their three-game road trip with a match against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at the Delta Center, aiming to bounce back after a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at Ball Arena.
Head coach Marco Sturm emphasized the importance of mental focus as the team prepares for a quick turnaround. “It is between your ears – that is what it is. It is a quick turnaround,” he stated. Sturm noted that the Mammoth have shown solid performance lately, boasting a roster filled with young talent and competitive energy. “They come out hard, and we just have to be ready for that,” he added.
In an effort to ignite the team’s performance, Sturm has made several changes to the forward lines. The first line, featuring Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm, and David Pastrnak, has been reunited. Pavel Zacha is set to center the second line with Marat Khusnutdinov and Viktor Arvidsson. The third line will see Tanner Jeannot, Fraser Minten, and Mikey Eyssimont working together again, while the fourth line, consisting of Johnny Beecher, Sean Kuraly, and Mark Kastelic, remains unchanged.
Notably, Casey Mittelstadt will sit out this game as Khusnutdinov makes his entry into the lineup. “I think today is a speed game. That is why a guy like [Khusnutdinov] is in,” Sturm explained. “What I want to see is a response today. We are better than that. It is a work in progress, though. A lot of moving pieces, new coach, new system. I get all that. We just have to find a way to buy in as quick as possible.”
As the Bruins prepare to face the Mammoth, there is hope that these adjustments will lead to a stronger performance and a much-needed victory on the road.