Spooner Could Return Against Rangers

BOSTON - Ryan Spooner has missed the last four games with a lingering lower-body injury, but appears poised to return to the lineup on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers.
The 25-year-old was activated from injured reserve on Thursday after Matt Beleskey was placed on waivers, but did not play in the Bruins' loss to the Washington Capitals in an effort to give him a bit more time to rest an ailment that has allowed him to play in just 10 games this season.

"We'll make that decision 100 percent tomorrow, but I think it's time," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said of re-inserting Spooner into the lineup. "We kind of went back and forth - we don't want a reoccurrence if we can help it. The lineup was going well, obviously. Those are two of the biggest reasons, I think.
"We're confident when he goes in he'll play well. We just want to make sure he's got the best chance to stay in the lineup."

Spooner had been playing well in the five games since his return from a torn adductor in late November, notching a goal and two assists, while occupying his usual spot on Boston's No. 1 power play. He was not, however, feeling 100 percent and tweaked the injury against the Predators on Dec. 4.
"I think the last four games that I played I played well, but it's one of those things that it feels great and you go to make a move and it starts to hurt and it's in the back of your mind," said Spooner. "You're like, 'Should I play on it, should I not play on it?' It's tough. I've already missed 25 games or something like that, so it's not good. But it feels good now."
Should he return against the Rangers, Spooner would likely remain on the wing, where he played following his return late last month.
"Obviously - [Patrice Bergeron] and [David Krejci] are going to stay in the middle," said Cassidy, who also expects Spooner to be back in his spot on the top power-play unit. "[Riley] Nash, we like what that line has become. And then [Sean] Kuraly, he's been fine in the middle for what we've asked that group. So, it would probably be the wing. In a game, you can always make that adjustment."

While Spooner's roster spot has been cleared with the waiving of Beleskey, a place in the lineup still has to be cleared - a decision that is no doubt a difficult one considering that the Bruins have won nine of their last 12 games, while scoring at least three goals in their last seven. One possibility, which Cassidy hinted at, is rookie winger Anders Bjork sitting against the Rangers.
"We'll make that decision tomorrow, but that is definitely a possibility," said Cassidy, who did not rule out a trip to Providence for the 21-year-old winger. "He's one of the guys we've discussed. Again, we're going to - after practice today - talk about our lineup for tomorrow. So, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but certainly a possibility, yes."
Bjork played a season-low 6:47 on Thursday against Washington and has just one point - a goal against Arizona on Dec. 7 - in the six games since he returned from an undisclosed injury on Dec. 2.
"I just find that Anders is not as strong on the puck as he was at the start of the year or as quick to create turnovers," said Cassidy. "There's parts of his game we're always going to work on….I think the goal [the Capitals] scored the other night is a good example. We make a play through the middle of the ice tape to tape…he's in the crease and he's not able to handle the puck, and they're coming back at us while we're thinking we're on offense…some of it is just where he's at in his career. Guys are stronger."
Bjork acknowledged that his speed and skating game has been lacking of late and that finding consistency in every area of his game is the biggest challenge he faces as he continues to adjust to playing at the pro level.
"You can't lose battles in this league," said Bjork. "It costs you, especially against good teams like we played [Thursday] night. My consistency, especially with my effort every shift and every face-off - every little play counts.
"I know how much strength I have and I have to use that. It's on me if I don't. I've just got to have that confidence every shift."

Opposing View

The Rangers (35) sit a point ahead of the Bruins (34) in the Eastern Conference, with New York positioned in the second Wild Card position. The Blue Shirts, 6-3-1 over their last 10, were set to host the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
Mats Zuccarello paces New York with 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) in 31 games, while Michael Grabner leads the way with 15 goals.
Henrik Lundqvist continues to be a stalwart between the pipes, posting a 14-8-2 record with a 2.70 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 26 starts.
The Rangers took the first matchup between the two teams with a 4-2 victory on Nov. 8 in New York. Jimmy Vesey scored twice in a span of 29 seconds late in the first period and Rick Nash potted an empty-netter with 8 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Wait, There's More

• A day after being placed on waivers, Beleskey cleared and will be assigned to Providence, according to Cassidy.
• Tuukka Rask will get the start against the Rangers on Saturday afternoon. Rask and Anton Khudobin will split the back-to-back against Columbus and Buffalo early next week, though Cassidy has not yet decided which goalie will start which game.