BOSTON — After a 6-1 loss to the Red Wings at home on Friday, it's not surprising that Bruins coach Claude Julien would make some changes in his lineup for the rematch in Detroit on Sunday.
But at least one of those changes does come as a bit of a surprise, as rookie defensemen Steven Kampfer will have to wait a while longer to make his pro debut in his home state. The Jackson, Michigan native, who was looking forward to playing in Joe Louis Arena once again after playing there as a youngster and while at the University of Michigan, will be a healthy scratch in this one.
That's sure to disappoint the 40 or so friends and family Kampfer expected to be on hand, including his parents, who flew up from Florida, where they now live, in anticipation of seeing him play in his home state for the first time as an NHL player.
Less disappointed is Mark Stuart, who returns to the lineup in Kampfer's spot after being a healthy scratch for the past eight games. Johnny Boychuk will move up alongside Zdeno Chara in Kampfer's spot, while Stuart will open alongside Andrew Ference.
Kampfer had given the Bruins' defense a spark upon his recall in December and added an element of mobility and offense the unit lacked. But his play has slipped a bit of late, with no goals in 12 games and just one point in the last nine. It's not surprising to see Julien give him a break as the grind of the pro season could be wearing on him in his first year out of college, but picking this game for that breather is a bit of a shock.
The change up front is much less surprising, as Tyler Seguin returns after sitting out the last two games as a healthy scratch. He will replace fellow rookie Zach Hamill, though Seguin will play on the right side, with Blake Wheeler sliding to center and Michael Ryder moving to left wing on that line.
It is a homecoming of sorts for Seguin as well, as he starred for the nearby Plymouth (Mich.) Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League before the Bruins drafted him second overall last June.
Flint, Michigan native Tim Thomas returns in goal after coming on in relief of Tuukka Rask on Friday.
The Red Wings aren't expected to make any changes from Friday's lineup.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Michael Ryder-Blake Wheeler-Tyler Seguin
Jordan Caron-Greg Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Adam McQuaid
Mark Stuart-Andrew Ference
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Daniel Paille (suspension), Steven Kampfer, Zach Hamill
Projected Red Wings lines
Forwards
Johan Franzen-Henrik Zetterberg-Todd Bertuzzi
Jiri Hudler-Pavel Datsyuk-Dan Cleary
Tomas Holmstrom-Justin Abdelkader-Patrick Eaves
Kris Draper-Darren Helm-Drew Miller
Defense
Nicklas Lidstrom-Niklas Kronwall
Jonathan Ericsson-Brian Rafalski
Jakub Kindl-Ruslan Salei
Goalies
Jimmy Howard
Joey MacDonald
Scratches: Jan Mursak (toe), Valtteri Filppula (knee)
