Anders Bjork called up for Bruins, will play tonight vs. Leafs

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BRIGHTON – After a red-hot start in Providence, everybody will get a chance to look at Anders Bjork tonight in a big-boy Bruins uniform.

Bjork is skating with the Boston Bruins at Warrior Ice Arena on Tuesday morning ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the B’s will be down a forward as Karson Kuhlman (lower body) was once again missing from the practice ice.

“When he left [training camp] he was bringing lots of energy, he was on top of pucks and he was attacking the net. He did a lot of things well. He seemed stronger and sustained his shifts better. I think his defensive game has improved, so we’ll see if he’s prepared for that,” said Bruce Cassidy, of Bjork starting the game in an energy left wing role with Kuraly and Wagner. “And he’s got two very responsible players, so maybe he can add some offense to that group. We’ll see how he plays up there and then decide what we’ll do, and what the best fit will be up here.”

In order to make room for Bjork, David Krejci (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve by the Bruins after missing the last two games and not appearing on the practice ice sense then.

Kuhlman was injured at the end of the first period on Saturday night vs. Toronto when he was hit in the leg with a Jake DeBrusk shot, and ended up skating little more than nine minutes in the overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.

Bjork has three goals and eight points to start the season for the P-Bruins, and was one of the last players cut by the Bruins in NHL training camp after finally looking healthy following two seasons cut short by shoulder surgeries. The Bruins could certainly use a speedy, skilled guy like Bjork if he’s playing at the level that made him one of Boston’s top forward prospects after leaving the Notre Dame hockey program early to sign with the Black and Gold.

It looks like Bjork may be starting the game on the fourth line based on the line rushes at morning skate, but Bruce Cassidy isn’t going to be afraid to mix and match based on the inconsistent play of his second and third lines so far this season.

Here are the projected line combos and D-pairings based on Tuesday’s morning skate:

 

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak

DeBrusk-Coyle-Ritchie

Bjork-Kuraly-Wagner

Heinen-Lindholm-Backes

 

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Grzelcyk-Clifton

 

Rask

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