Need to Know: Rask to Get Call vs. Tampa

BostonBruins.com - In the days leading up to the NHL's shutdown back in March, the top two teams in the league were just beginning to revitalize their rivalry.

The Bruins and Lightning faced off twice in a span of five days in the week before the sports world was put on pause by the COVID-19 pandemic, splitting the matchups - a 2-1 Boston win on March 3 and a 5-3 Tampa victory on March 7 - the second of which was a spirited, fight-filled affair that included a combined 94 penalty minutes.

It was a preview of what many believed would be an inevitable playoff showdown between the Beasts of the East, who have battled head to head for conference supremacy for the past three seasons.

While it's certainly not the postseason meeting anyone expected, the Bruins and Lightning will finally clash again on Wednesday night, as the divisional foes meet in a round-robin contest in Toronto (4 p.m. ET on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub).

It is the exact type of matchup that coach Bruce Cassidy hopes can get his group moving in the right direction after a tough opening week in the bubble.

"I hope it does," Cassidy said following Tuesday's practice. "I saw the [Tampa] game [on Monday], I went. Very physical, very spirited with Washington. They're developing a rivalry. With us and Tampa, I expect a lot of the same [on Wednesday] - physical, competitive.

"We're trying to build our game and get better every time out. We're gonna need to be if we want to beat Tampa. Looking forward to it, I think the guys are too…should be a great test for us, bring out the best in us."

Rask Gets the Call

After missing Sunday's round-robin opener with a cough that required a two-day quarantine, Bruins ace netminder Tuukka Rask is expected to be back between the pipes on Wednesday afternoon against the Lightning.

"He got two good practice days in. Assuming nothing happens tonight, and he wakes up feeling good, he'll get the start," said Cassidy.

The original plan heading into the round robin was for Rask to start two games, but whether or not that will remain the case is still to be determined.

"Let's get him through tomorrow and then we'll have a conversation of what he needs," Cassidy explained. "There's a lot of time between games. I don't know when we're gonna start [the first round] so that might have something to do with it too. If we start him Sunday night and then they turn around and start us Tuesday, is that enough time for Tuukka?

"Some of those things will be determined by the schedule and how he feels, whether he plays Sunday or not. It was our intention to probably play him two out of the three…if we're gonna stick to that then he would play Sunday."

Ritchie Back In, Too

Nick Ritchie will see his first game action on Wednesday after missing a large chunk of training camp and Sunday's opener for an undisclosed reason. The winger will play the left side on a line with David Krejci and Karson Kuhlman, at least to start.

"I'm excited to join the guys and get to work," said Ritchie. "Hopefully I can complement [Krejci] by playing the style I play and let his creativity combined with me driving straight lines and driving the net and winning puck battles, hopefully that works out for us tomorrow."

Fellow deadline acquisition Ondrej Kase skated with the full group again on Tuesday afternoon but will not play against the Lightning. Cassidy indicated that the team is targeting a Sunday return for the Czech native. At that time, it's likely that Kase will join Ritchie and Krejci to round out Boston's second line.

"The trade was made for that purpose originally, to see how he fit with Krejci," said Cassidy, who will play Karson Kuhlman in that spot against Tampa. "We know we can drop [David Pastrnak] down, but then who goes up? It would be nice if Ondrej and David got some chemistry, a guy that likes to make plays to a guy that likes to shoot.

"That was the decision originally. It just hasn't worked out that way because of the pause, obviously, and Ondrej's setback. That's what we want it to look like."

DeBrusk Shifts Down

With Ritchie returning, Cassidy bumped Jake DeBrusk down to play with Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork. DeBrusk will shift to the right wing for the time being, a spot that he found some success in before the pause.

"I feel comfortable there," said Cassidy. "Obviously, CC's a great centerman as well. He plays a little bit of a different style, he's a little bit more of a straight-line player in a sense. Him and Bjorkie have been playing pretty well. Excited to join that.

"Right now, I think it's just a matter of trying to find chemistry anyway possible. Playing the right side, wherever I can help the team is where I'll go."

Cassidy had reunited DeBrusk and Krejci during training camp but did not appear pleased with how the duo played in either the B's exhibition contest or Sunday's loss to the Flyers.

"Jake and David have to develop chemistry and they have to start getting some results if we're gonna keep them together," said Cassidy. "If not, Charlie Coyle will play with Jake and someone else moves up - in this case Ritchie, could be Bjork down the road if we think he's a better fit with Krech. That's what we're trying to get done in a short period of time here.

"We don't want to overanalyze one particular game, but that's where we're at. We have to do that to a certain extent and watch in practice as well. They've got to put the onus on themselves to get going as individuals.

"As a pair, they'll recreate some of what they were able to do. If not, then we've got to look at other duos and slot a guy in on the right side."

DeBrusk remains confident in his chemistry with Krejci but acknowledged that both players are trying to still ramp up their games coming out of the long layoff.

"I think that we still do have chemistry, but it's a matter of trying to find the other piece on our line and also trying to find our games individually," said DeBrusk. "Usually when we're both playing well, we find each other. I think that goes with pretty much anyone on our team right now."

Studnicka to Second Group

B's forward prospect Jack Studnicka made his postseason debut on Sunday against Philadelphia, landing three shots on goal in 11:36 of ice time, playing alongside Krejci and DeBrusk. It appears, however, that the 21-year-old will not suit up against the Lightning after practicing with the second group of Black Aces on Tuesday.

"He's healthy. We've been trying to get our group to a smaller group day before a game," said Cassidy. "We've used a bigger group on some of the other [days] when we have a little more time because we've done a little scrimmaging. He went out on the ice after with [Zach] Senyshyn and [Trent] Frederic and then Kase went back out with them to get some extra work."

Opposing View

• The Lightning won their first round-robin matchup on Monday night, a 3-2 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals. Former Hart Trophy champ Nikita Kucherov had a goal in regulation and the shootout winner.
• Tampa captain Steven Stamkos is not expected to suit up against the Bruins on Wednesday night.
• The Bolts were 2-1-1 against the Bruins during the regular season, outscoring Boston, 13-10.

Tuesday's Practice Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Nick Ritchie - David Krejci - Karson Kuhlman/Ondrej Kase

Anders Bjork - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk

Joakim Nordstrom - Sean Kuraly/Par Lindholm - Chris Wagner

DEFENSEMEN

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo

Matt Grzelcyk - Jeremy Lauzon

John Moore - Connor Clifton

GOALIES

Tuukka Rask

Jaroslav Halak