BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins lineup will have a different look in Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight with one change, and with Jake DeBrusk assuring that he’s “100 percent” after he was banged up in the Game 1 loss.
The change will be 34-year-old David Backes entering the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the Thursday night loss against the Leafs. The ensuing toughness, physicality, leadership and attitude should come along with his presence in the lineup.
Certainly, the Bruins coaching staff is looking for something a little closer to playoff intensity after a lackluster Game 1 loss, and Bruce Cassidy knows that the experienced, hardnosed Backes will help bring that along.
“We’ll put David Backes in and we’ll make a decision on our lineup plan when we assess our health,” said Cassidy, who didn’t single out a possible lineup scratch. Joakim Nordstrom is a likely candidate. “He’s been a good player for us. We need a little more leadership and a little more intensity in our lineup, and he obviously brings that. So, we’ll see where that goes.”
It remains to be seen where Backes will slot in, but he skated on the right wing with Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen at the Friday practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
As for DeBrusk, he said he was feeling “100 percent” after missing practice Friday for a maintenance day and he's expected to man the left wing with David Krejci and perhaps Marcus Johansson on a skill-heavy second line.
“There were a couple of hits I took, but they weren’t really a concern of mine. I just wanted to get out there early today and get the body moving after missing practice yesterday,” said DeBrusk, who was kept off the scoreboard in Game 1. “I’m ready to go.”
Cassidy confirmed there would be no changes on the B’s back end and that Tuukka Rask would start Game 2, but the B’s also called up veteran forward Paul Carey as another lineup option should Cassidy not like what he sees on Saturday night.
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Here are the projected line combinations and D-pairings Game 2 with the Bruins expected to throw a much bigger punch at the Maple Leafs than they did in the 4-1 Game 1 defeat:
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Kuhlman
Johansson-Coyle-Backes
Heinen-Acciari-Wagner
Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Clifton
Rask
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