BOSTON –– The Boston Bruins close out their three-game homestand on Saturday with a 1 p.m. matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.
The B’s are coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday and are looking to build momentum before leaving for their four-game West Coast road trip.
“We just touched on it. We are not really focused on Philly. What I’ve heard is they’re playing better the last few games, so we’ve just got to make sure we find our game right away," head coach Marco Sturm said. "It’s a one o'clock game; it’s been a while to start here in the afternoon. We just have to make sure we are ready and play our game and find our game as soon as possible.”
Sturm said there would be no changes to the lineup from last game. That means Matt Poitras, who had two points (one goal, one assist) last game, will center the fourth line between Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic. It's a trio Sturm has been testing out this week.
“That’s a good timing right now to show it. Yes, he can skate, yes, he has the skill for it. It could be a good combo, too," Sturm said. "We just try to figure it out right now, but I do like the combination and the skill set he brings in for that line.”
Wait, There’s More
- Jeremy Swayman will start in net for Boston. The goaltender last played on Thursday and made 36 saves against Utah. Swayman has a 1.98 goals-against average and .932 save percentage through four games. Michael DiPietro will be the backup.
- David Pastrnak posted four points (two goals, two assists) on Thursday and now leads the Bruins with six total points (two goals, four assists) in five games. Both of the captain’s goals came on the power play, which went 3-for-4 against the Mammoth. Pastrnak is on the first line with Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha.
- Frederic Brunet remains in the lineup for his third consecutive game. He is expected to be on the third pair with Mason Lohrei. The 23-year-old defenseman earned his first NHL point on Thursday with an assist on Pastrnak’s first goal. Brunet has been getting reps running the first power-play unit from the point.
Opposing View
- The Flyers are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre. Matvei Michkov had Philadelphia’s only goal, and netminder Joseph Woll made 24 saves. The Flyers have yet to win a game, dropping their opening five matchups of the season.
- Travis Konecny leads Philadelphia with three points (all assists) through five games. The 29-year-old forward has been skating on the first line with Sean Couturier and Porter Martone. He is also on the first power-play unit with Michkov, Tyson Foerster, Trevor Zegras and David Jiricek.
- Michkov, who was the Flyers’ seventh-overall pick in 2023, leads his team with two goals in five games. The 21-year-old forward is expected to be on the third line with Foerster and Denver Barkey. Michkov is averaging 15:28 of ice time per game.
