Need to Know: Halak Will Start in Game 3

BostonBruins.com - The Bruins get right back to it on Wednesday night as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of their second-round series, aiming to open up a 2-1 series lead. Despite the tight turnaround from Tuesday night's Game 2 setback, Jaroslav Halak will get the start between the pipes.
"He did not skate on the ice today, so he's recovered well. That's the plan," Cassidy said on Wednesday afternoon in Toronto.
Cassidy went on to say that the team is not scared of starting rookie Dan Vladar but acknowledged it would be a difficult task for the 23-year-old who has never played in a National Hockey League game.

"We're not nervous of putting him in there, were not afraid of putting him in there," said Cassidy. "Is it necessary, first of all? A, that has to do with what we said before with Jaro, and B, because of the situation, he's never played, that's a big ask. That's where we're at. If we have to, we will, and we'll play well in front of him and hopefully he'll be up to the task."

Defense Mechanism

Cassidy said the Bruins will have one game-time decision up front, and with the back-to-back, he might be compelled to dress seven defensemen.
"We've kind of contemplated that going into the back-to-back - on the second night of the back-to-back - that's something we're mulling over," said Cassidy. "Back-to-back game, some guys it's a heavier workload. You're playing [Charlie] McAvoy upward of 25 minutes…we have some smaller guys that it's been a physical series for them. So, save a little wear and tear, put some fresh legs in there.
"The disadvantage of seven D is finding your rhythm as a defenseman. The second part of that is obviously up front, what if we get an injury to a forward? Now you're really down to 10, so there can be some risk involved in the playoffs, especially considering the tight games we've been in like overtimes. That's where we have to be careful."
While there is risk in that scenario, Boston's bench boss mentioned that Connor Clifton played some forward during his time in Providence and could pinch hit for a few shifts up front if necessary.
"If he's in the lineup, he's not unfamiliar with that," said Cassidy. "It's not ideal, obviously, but it is a situation - an emergency situation."

Opposing View

Per Tampa coach Jon Cooper, the Lightning will be without defenseman Ryan McDonagh for the second straight game. Cooper would not confirm his goaltender - Andrei Vasilevskiy or Curtis McElhinney - for Game 3, saying, "we have two goalies and one of them is gonna play tonight."