The Boston Bruins are riding high after beating the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout Thursday, but earning their next win will be no easy task.
The Bruins are in Buffalo on Saturday to take on the Sabres, who have won two straight since phenom forward Jack Eichel returned to the lineup. The Massachusetts native and former Boston University star already has netted three goals and an assist in two games, helping Buffalo pour in nine total goals over those two contests.
Boston still is the better team on paper, with a 13-10-1 record to the Sabres’ 9-9-5 mark. Yet the B’s once again will have to make do without top defensemen Zdeno Chara (lower body) and John-Michael Liles (concussion), who both are day-to-day.
Forward Patrice Bergeron didn’t practice Friday but traveled with the team to Buffalo and is expected to play. His absence was not injury-related, per head coach Claude Julien.
Here are the projected lineups for both teams.
BOSTON BRUINS (13-10-1)
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Pastrnak
Tim Schaller–David Krejci–David Backes
Matt Beleskey–Riley Nash–Austin Czarnik
Ryan Spooner–Dominic Moore–Anton Blidh
Torey Krug–Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller–Brandon Carlo
Joe Morrow–Colin Miller
Tuukka Rask
BUFFALO SABRES (9-9-5)
Kyle Okposo–Ryan O’Reilly–Zemgus Girgensons
Derek Grant–Jack Eichel–Sam Reinhart
Marcus Foligno–Johan Larsson–Brian Gionta
Matt Moulson–Evander Kane–Will Carrier
Jake McCabe–Rasmus Ristolainen
Josh Gorges–Cody Franson
Taylor Fedun–Justin Falk
Robin Lehner
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
