The Boston Bruins are gearing up for a matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, with some notable adjustments to their lineup. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET, and the Bruins will see forward Alex Steeves as a scratch, while Jeffrey Viel makes his return to the ice.
Head coach Marco Sturm addressed the changes following the morning skate, emphasizing the need for a shake-up in the forward lines, which now sees Marat Khusnutdinov elevated to the top line. “Obviously, Steeves is out of the lineup, so we had to make a little bit of an adjustment,” Sturm stated. “We just went back with Kuzy on the first line just to give them a little bit more jump. Make those other lines more even.”
Viel’s return marks his first game since November 29, and Sturm acknowledged the challenges of being sidelined. “I know it’s a hard job, it’s not easy,” he remarked. “One of the reasons why he’s still around is because of that. He’s a very good professional. He’s been there before. Does he like it? No. But he’s trying to stay ready.”
The updated forward lines for the Bruins ahead of the game feature:
Khusnutdinov-E. Lindholm-Pastrnak
Mittelstadt-Zacha-Geekie
Jeannot-Minten-Kastelic
Viel-Kuraly-Eyssimont
Entering this game, the Bruins are looking to rebound from a disappointing 3-1 loss at home to the Edmonton Oilers. With a current record of 20-15-0, the Bruins find themselves outside of playoff contention but remain focused on turning the season around. The adjustments to the lineup may provide the spark the team needs to elevate their performance and rekindle postseason aspirations.