Wingels replaces Schaller on B’s fourth line for Game 3

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins are looking for more production of their third and fourth lines a couple of games into their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, so they’re making a change on their fourth line headed into Wednesday night’s Game 3 at TD Garden.

MORE BRUINS - Is Bergeron getting kicked out of face-offs because he's so good at it?

Veteran winger Tommy Wingels will jump into the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the first two games and will replace Tim Schaller on the fourth line left wing. Bruce Cassidy confirmed the move after the morning skate Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena and said the move was made to bring a little more experience and physicality to the lineup after they were pushed around in a Game 2 loss in Tampa Bay.

Wingels has played three games for the Bruins in the playoffs with a plus-1 rating, but hasn’t played since the Game 6 loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto where he got a look on the second line with David Krejci.

MORE HAGGERTY - B's take an official beating from referees

Clearly, the Lightning have received some pretty solid play from their more experienced fourth line with Ryan Callahan and Chris Kunitz bringing their veteran big-game experience to the table, so perhaps Cassidy also trying to match that quality.

“Timmy has played well for us and so has Tommy. At the end of the day, Tommy has experience and provides some physicality,” said Cassidy. The fourth line that was on the ice for a goal against in Game 1 and combined for just a single shot on net in the Game 2 loss. “I think we’re a little short there. It’s just a gut [instinct] move to make sure we’re not too comfortable, and that we get the urgency that’s required. I think we lacked some of that up [front] at times. It certainly wasn’t both games in all 60 minutes, but I think [Wingels] can help us with that tonight.”

MORE BRUINS - Another strange night for Rask in Game 2 loss

Other than Wingels replacing Schaller, the Bruins will go with the same lineup of forwards and defensemen pairings along with goalie Tuukka Rask for Game 3: