The Bruins will remain shorthanded for Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues at TD Garden. Coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters after morning skate that David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm and Matt Grzelcyk will all be out.
According to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, it appeared Pastrnak and Lindholm skated on their own prior to morning skate. Neither remained on the ice with the rest of the team, though.
"I don't have a whole lot new," Cassidy said of Pastrnak and Lindholm. "I guess they're dragging on a little longer than I thought, first diagnosis. Other than that, wish I had better news. Still don't believe it'll be long, long term, but I thought both would be a little farther along by this time."
Pastrnak has missed the last three games since getting tangled up with Columbus defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov last Monday and falling awkwardly. Lindholm has missed the last two after suffering a lower-body injury in a leg-to-leg collision with Detroit forward Pius Suter last Tuesday.
As for Grzelcyk, he left Sunday’s game against the Capitals after appearing to injure his shoulder while pinching down on Garnet Hathaway. Cassidy told reporters Grzelcyk “feels a little better” and could potentially return for Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
With Lindholm and Grzelcyk both out, Connor Clifton will draw back into the lineup, and he’ll do so playing on his off side, something he has done before. Clifton will be paired with Josh Brown on the third pairing, with Derek Forbort bumping up to the top pairing next to Charlie McAvoy and Mike Reilly playing with Brandon Carlo on the second pairing.
The forward group will be the same as it was the last two games, with Marc McLaughlin remaining in Pastrnak’s place on the second line with Taylor Hall and Erik Haula. Jeremy Swayman is expected to start in goal Tuesday.
On the other side, according to The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, Blues coach Craig Berube told reporters that there is a “good chance” Torey Krug returns for Tuesday’s game, although a final decision won’t come until pregame warmups. The former Bruin has been out since March 22 with an upper-body injury. This will be his first game back in Boston if he plays.
Here is the full expected lineup for the Bruins:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall - Erik Haula - Marc McLaughlin
Trent Frederic - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar
Derek Forbort - Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly - Brandon Carlo
Connor Clifton - Josh Brown
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