Wingels Questionable for Game 2

BOSTON - After a day off the ice, Tommy Wingels participated in an optional pregame skate on Saturday morning and has been termed a game-time decision for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Wingels left in the third period of Boston's 5-1 victory over the Leafs in Game 1 after being hit from behind by Nazem Kadri along the boards. The NHL's Department of Player Safety suspended Kadri for three games on Friday night.

"Feel better, good little skate this morning," said Wingels. "Felt like I wanted to get out there and see how things were. Feel better than I did yesterday and I'll come to the game tonight and see how I feel. Decide from there."

The 30-year-old Wingels was on his knees facing the boards while trying to retrieve a puck when Kadri charged into him from behind. Kadri was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit.
"Didn't like the hit, think I was in a vulnerable spot," said Wingels. "I think as a game, as a league, as players, that's the stuff we don't want in our game. It was handled with; I think the league did a good job. Now it's completely in the past. There's no more need to talk about it.
"That's kind of my comment on it. Similar to Game 1, it's in the past, it's over with. The focus now is on Game 2."
With Kadri banished for Games 2-4, Toronto will have to adjust to being without their second line center, who scored 32 goals during the regular season. Leafs coach Mike Babcock bumped Leo Komarov up to the first-line left wing spot and shifted Patrick Marleau from the wing to center on the second line. Andreas Johnsson will enter the lineup as the fourth-line left wing.
"Well, we expected, obviously, a game out of it and we started with that yesterday," Babcock said of the suspension. "Adversity faced in the playoffs, if we're going to have a long run, is always there. There's not much you can do about it. Let's just get on with it. We went without a number of centers this year, let's play."

From the Bruins perspective, there doesn't figure to be much adjusting. They're prepared for Toronto to come out with plenty of motivation and intensity as they try to avoid falling into a 2-0 series deficit.
"He's a player who plays hard and has played well in the playoffs over the years," said Matt Grzelcyk. "I'm sure they'll miss him. But whoever gets in, I'm sure they're ready to compete as well. It's not gonna really change anything for us, we're approaching the game the same way."
If Wingels is unable to suit up, Ryan Donato will take his place in the lineup and make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, likely on the left side of Boston's third line with Noel Acciari and David Backes.
"Super excited. Growing up as a kid in Boston these are the types of games you dream about playing in, Stanley Cup Playoffs," said Donato. "I'm just blessed to have the opportunity to possibly have the opportunity."

Donato spoke with Backes - a veteran of 56 career playoff games - on Saturday morning to gather some insight about what to expect when the puck drops just after 8 p.m.
"He talked to me today. He said, 'If you go in, there's a lot of things about the game that you're gonna have to learn and take in yourself,'" said Donato. "'But here are some lessons that I learned in my experiences and hopefully you can use those to have a positive impact on our game.'"
Danton Heinen was the third-line left wing for Game 1, but will slide down to the right side with Tim Schaller and Sean Kuraly if Donato plays. Cassidy believes Heinen's responsible defensive play - and previous experience with that duo - makes him a natural fit to make the shift.
"He had success with them early in the year, that was his ticket to stay here full time, did a real good job, played the appropriate type of game for playing with those two guys," said Cassidy. "They like to play behind their D, manage pucks, offensive zone time. They've played against good lines…Danton's a good defensive player and we really like his awareness defensively."

Saturday's Projected Lineup

Riley Nash (ear laceration) has been ruled out for Game 2, but skated on Saturday morning and continues to progress. Brian Gionta and Nick Holden will once again be the healthy scratches.
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Rick Nash
Ryan Donato - Noel Acciari - David Backes
Tim Schaller - Sean Kuraly - Danton Heinen
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Kevan Miller
Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin