Need to Know: Bruins vs. Canucks

BOSTON - Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed that
the lines he crafted for Saturday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena
will be the same ones that hit the ice on Sunday night for Boston's tilt against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden.
Among the changes will be Trent Frederic shifting back to his natural center position between Nick Foligno and Karson Kuhlman. Foligno is looking forward to moving back to his natural spot, as well, after playing the right wing for the first nine games of his Bruins career.

"I'm excited to play on the left side and just do my part to help the team," said Foligno. "That's all we ask of anybody. Wherever you're put, you've just got to do your job."
Foligno said that he is hopeful the switch across the ice will help his scoring touch as he searches for his first goal in the Spoked-B. The veteran forward has three assists in nine games.
"I actually like where my game's trending right now," said Foligno, who notched two helpers on Wednesday night in Buffalo. "I think the first few was just getting timing and everything back. Listen, I know there's a goose egg in the goal column but I'm planning on rectifying that. I know I can. I think also too, you can't get caught up in that stuff.
"I play the game a certain way and I think I bring value in other aspects. But one area that I do want to help in is offensively. If I continue to trend the way I feel I am, those looks are gonna open up…I'm excited to play with those two guys today. We're gonna get to work."

Elsewhere up front, Craig Smith will reunite with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle and Tomas Nosek with Anton Blidh and Curtis Lazar. Erik Haula and Jake DeBrusk will be healthy scratches for the first time this season.
"I think what happens with Jake, what we've seen over the last few years is - when the production is there, you're getting more second effort. They kind of go hand in hand," said Cassidy. "When it's not there, we lose it a little bit. That's been the ask of him for a number of years now. No drop off on this side of the ledger just because the production isn't there.
"Any 20-goal scorer still only scores once every four games if that's playing every game. You still need the other things. A little bit more of an ask, second effort away from the puck, working to keep it out of your net.
"For him, it's foot speed. I like to see that every night. I'd like to see him impact the game with his foot speed every night in some way, shape, or form, whether it's forecheck or attacking the net, penalty kill, whatever the case may be.
"That's where we're at. We're starting to see that drop off again, so it's a reminder that, 'Hey, bring us the effort and hopefully the production happens. But we need that.'"

Opposing View

The Bruins and Canucks are meeting for the first time since Feb. 22, 2020, at Rogers Arena - a 9-3 victory for Vancouver. The Canucks are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night, which marked their third consecutive setback and eighth in the last nine games.
Vancouver is paced offensively by J.T. Miller, who has 19 points and seven goals in 21 games. Blue liner Quinn Hughes ranks second in scoring on the Canucks with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists).
Old friend Jaroslav Halak will get the start for Vancouver on Sunday night. He has posted an 0-3-1 record with a 2.79 goals against average and .903 save percentage in his first season with the Canucks.

Sunday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Nick Foligno - Trent Frederic - Karson Kuhlman
Anton Blidh - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Derek Forbort - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Mike Reilly - Jakub Zboril
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman