A quick look at the lineup for the Boston Bruins’ preseason opener against the Washington Capitals today at TD Garden (5 pm, NESN-plus and 102.5 FM) suggests some obvious things about management’s objectives for tonight’s game.
The “Kid Line” of Fraser Minten between Marat Khusnutdinov and James Hagens will get a look, and while any offense will pop, the more-enduring questions will be how it will play out for Head Coach Marco Sturm to deploy two of his three best defensive forwards on the same line. Will they provide the support that Hagens needs entering his first full season as a professional? Will another line need Minten or Khusnutdinov more?
Sturm told a press gathering this afternoon that he only wants the kids to go out and have fun, play the game, use their speed and skill, and enjoy themselves. The last thing he wants is those guys thinking too much out there.
Meantime, Michael DiPietro gets the start and is being slotted in for the entire 60. DiPietro is wearing No. 30 and being backed up by Jiri Patera (31).
Defense has Charlie McAvoy with new training-camp defense partner Frederic Brunet, and at least five other defensemen who are vying for two spots in the opening-night lineup (Sept. 29 vs. NYR at TD Garden).
Lots of bubblicious Bruins getting a game in today against the Caps.
FIRST PERIOD
Poitras thought he had Hagens behind the Caps defense, but Matt Roy took away his little feed that would have sprung Hagens.
Jordan Harris gets caught with his stick into a Capitals forward circling the Boston net with the puck – arm goes up – and then on the delayed penalty, Joey Abate takes a second tripping penalty at center ice.
5on3: DiPietro stones Tom Wilson from point-blank range at the left post, but one second after the expiration Jonny Brodzinski buried a one-timer from the right circle. 1-0 Capitals.
Brunet isn’t right. He took a regroup pass from Lohrei awkwardly and went to the bench wincing. There was no player contact so, based on reaction, it’s possible the puck reception jammed his wrist.
Bruins PP with Lynden Lakovic in the box: Alex Steeves takes two crushing hits on the powerplay. Lohrei snaps his stick on a point shot.
Jordan Harris deflects Brodzinski’s wrister from the right circle over the tall netting and into the luxury suites behind DiPietro.
WRINKLE: Minten is charging straight forward with headman passes. It may just be a Washington thing giving him the middle, but he’s taking the puck like there are four seconds left in the period. Every time.
Wilson getting himself warmed up for the season: Harris wrapped up the big, bad winger, taking him down in front of the Boston net. When the puck went to the point, Wilson quietly got himself into signature position between Harris and DiPietro and proceeded to deliver two enthusiastic crosschecks to Harris’ back. The Boston defenseman did not fall, and no penalty was called.
Lukas Reichel is playing the off wing (RW) with Poitras at center and 23-year-old Swiss winger Attilio Biasca on the opposite (left) side.
Wilson wraps up a Boston forward, and Kastelic steps in. The scrum is halted, and the Bruins go to the powerplay with 13.6 seconds left in the first period. Vincent Desharnais is in the penalty box as the period ends.
Shots on goal: 7-7.
The Capitals have sustained better O-zone pressure with a more-veteran top six including Wilson (age 32), Pierre-Luc Dubois (28), Anthony Beauvillier (29), and newcomers Tuch (30) and Boone Jenner (33). Did you know Brodzinski is 33?
It’s almost certain that Sturm will suit up David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie as an all-righties line for Tuesday’s home game vs. Philadelphia. The Bruins play their other two preseason games on the road: Thursday at Philly and Friday at Washington (anyone else see a pattern here?).
SECOND PERIOD
The Kid Line was augmented by McAvoy and Steeves, who took two hard hits to maintain possession in the attacking zone. When Steeves has been around the puck, he has made good decisions, but nothing is going his way, including a quick release from the slot that was quietly blocked and cleared out to center.
Poitras and Lohrei were on the second unit, and Poitras made three excellent plays as the PP was winding down and transitioning into what Jack Edwards likes to call “the vulnerable minute.” Poitras got the puck to the net, sidestepped an interference-hip from Jakob Chychrun and curled the puck back to the point, made the same basic play a second time, and on his way to the bench supported the puck at 5v5 to keep it in the Washington zone. And excellent, all-around shift for Poitras, who desperately needs a statement camp in his two-game window.
Wilson tried on the forecheck Brunet and get a call when he wound up on his backside at the Boston net – no dice.
Wilson tried to run Hagens as the rookie posted up at the defensive half wall to get the puck out. The puck got out and Wilson missed Hagens.
Poitras continues to get the puck to open teammates for shots or at least shot attempts. Biasca makes a nice set-up as well, but the Bruins have yet to dent the twine.
Bruins to the powerplay – Brodzinski in the box with 6:28 left in the second period.
Henri Jokiharju got Dylan McIlrath in the hand with a one-timer from the left point.
Khusnutdinov scores with one second left on the powerplay. Brunet with the primary pass from behind the net, and it’s 1-1 with 4:28 remaining in the second period. Sturm gave the second unit half the penalty this time.
Abate runs at Wilson, misses and hits the boards all noisy. Wilson gives Abate a little stick tug.
Sean Kuraly is off for hooking with 3:46 left in the period. Caps to the powerplay:
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 