BOSTON –– The Boston Bruins will have some new faces in the lineup on Monday at TD Garden as they host the Carolina Hurricanes for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Forwards Matěj Blümel and Riley Tufte were recalled from Providence, while Viktor Arvidsson and Casey Mittelstadt were placed on injured reserve with their respective lower-body injuries. Charlie McAvoy will also be sidelined, head coach Marco Sturm said. The defenseman took a puck to the face on Saturday in Montreal.
“He is with the doctors right now. There’s no timeline. Obviously, he is going to be out tonight,” Sturm said. “We have to wait and see.”
Blümel and Tufte both participated in Monday’s morning skate before making their season debuts.
“I think we’ve been playing well down there in the minors,” Tufte said. “You obviously don’t like seeing injuries up here, but there are some injuries, and it gives me an opportunity to come in and show what I can do.”
Tufte, who is in his second season with Providence, has posted 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 13 games this year. The 6-foot-6, 233-pound forward is projected to skate on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont.
“I think just keep it simple is the main thing for us,” Tufte said. “Obviously, playing fourth line and trying to go out there and not get scored on. Doing the simple things and sticking to the details is the main thing for me.”
Blümel signed a one-year deal with Boston in July and had a productive training camp before joining the Providence Bruins in the AHL. Since then, the 25-year-old forward has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 13 games.
“Coaches and all of the organization are focusing on D-zone details and don’t make any turnovers and stuff like that,” Blümel said. “I want to play the right way, too. I want to play the way they want me to play and also add some of that offense I’ve been working on all my life.”
Blümel is on the second line with Alex Steeves and Pavel Zacha. Blümel got to know Zacha before his first camp with the B’s, staying at his house and exploring the city together. Now, they’re reunited.
“He is a great person, great player, too. Also, he’s from Czech, so that helps,” Blümel said of Zacha. “Just getting those morning skate drills with him, that was awesome, and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the game tonight.”
The Bruins have won eight of their last 10 games – most recently beating the Canadiens 3-2 – and will look to continue their strong play against Carolina.
