Bruins at Devils preview
Bergeron game-time decision for Boston; Vatanen returns to New Jersey lineup
by Mike G. Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
BRUINS (12-3-5) AT DEVILS (7-8-4)
7 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, SNW, MSG, NESN, NHL.TV
The Game
Patrice Bergeron will be a game-time decision when the Boston Bruins play the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Tuesday.
The center, who missed a 3-2 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday because of a lower-body injury, participated in the morning skate on a line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
Forwards Jake DeBrusk (upper body) and Brett Ritchie (lower body) return to the Bruins after each missed five games. Boston is 1-2-3 in its past six games after a 10-game point streak (8-0-2).
Defenseman Sami Vatanen will play for the Devils after missing four games with an upper-body injury, when New Jersey went 3-1-0.
Players to watch
Bruins forward Charlie Coyle has five points (two goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak.
Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood will make his fifth straight start. He is 3-1-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in his past four games.
They said it
"[Bergeron] will be a game-time decision; he'll go for warmup. He felt a lot better today, but I don't want to confirm (whether he is in or out of the lineup) just yet." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy
"I'm starting to learn how to deal with the League. Mentally, it's what to expect day in and day out, managing your emotions and the ups and downs of a season. Every day is still a learning process for me, but I think I've done a good job of preparing myself." -- Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood
Bruins projected lineup
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Brett Ritchie
Anders Bjork -- Charlie Coyle -- Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom -- Sean Kuraly -- Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk -- Brandon Carlo
Urho Vaakanainen -- Connor Clifton
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched: Brendan Gaunce, Steven Kampfer, Par Lindholm
Injured: Torey Krug (upper body), David Backes (upper body), Zach Senyshyn (lower body), Karson Kuhlman (fractured tibia), Kevan Miller (knee), John Moore (shoulder)
Devils projected lineup
Taylor Hall -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood -- Jack Hughes -- Kyle Palmieri
Blake Coleman -- Travis Zajac -- Nikita Gusev
John Hayden -- Pavel Zacha -- Wayne Simmonds
Andy Greene -- Damon Severson
Will Butcher -- P.K. Subban
Mirco Mueller -- Sami Vatanen
Mackenzie Blackwood
Louis Domingue
Scratched: Jesper Boqvist, Matt Tennyson
Injured: Connor Carrick (finger), Kevin Rooney (upper body)
Status report
Gaunce and Vaakanainen were recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Monday. ... Goalie Cory Schneider was assigned to Binghamton of the AHL by the Devils after clearing waivers at noon Tuesday. Domingue was recalled from Binghamton on Monday.
Stat pack
Bergeron has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past nine games. ... Coleman has three points (one goal, two assists) in a three-game point streak. He will play his 200th game in the NHL.