Tyler Seguin will get his first shot at top billing.
The talented second-year playmaker will move back to his natural position at center and move up to the first line between Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton Wednesday night in Carolina. Seguin replaces David Krejci in that spot, as Krejci remained behind in Boston after suffering a core injury in practice in Tuesday.
Seguin was primarily a center in his junior career and saw time at that position again this preseason.
"I think we knew that down the road we'd need him to step up in that area," Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters after Wednesday's morning skate in Carolina. "We know [Rich] Peverley can be one of those guys too, but I like the way that [second] line's played so far, so moving Tyler there is certainly one of our options and probably the one we're going to start with."
Seguin is tied for the team lead with three points (all assists) through three games, and will try to get Lucic (0-1-1, minus-2) and Horton (0-0-0, minus-2) going after a sluggish start to the season for the first-line wingers. Seguin showed some flashes of the potential he has at center during camp, but returned to wing to start the season due to the Bruins' depth down the middle.
"He seemed a little more comfortable [at center], but not to the point where he could surpass our other guys that are there at right now," Julien said. "We certainly don't want to make him a third- or fourth-line centerman. We need him to play more on those top lines. It was a situation where he seemed a little bit more comfortable. It's been his position his whole career."
Jordan Caron, who has been a healthy scratch the past two games, will return to the lineup and take Seguin's spot on the third line with Chris Kelly and Benoit Pouliot. The second line of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and Peverley and the fourth line of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton will remain unchanged, though Bergeron's line, which has been Boston's best in the early going, is likely to get more minutes and actually serve as the de facto top line with Krejci out.
Tim Thomas is expected to get the start in goal after Tuukka Rask made his first start of the season in Monday's 1-0 loss to Colorado. Thomas, the reigning Vezina and Conn Smythe winner, is 1-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .945 save percentage so far this year.
Cam Ward is slated to start in net for Carolina. Ward is off to a rocky start this season with an 0-2-0 record, 4.03 GAA and .864 save percentage, having allowed eight goals on 59 shots in his first two appearances against Tampa Bay and New Jersey.
The Hurricanes are still looking for their first win at 0-2-1 and will shake up their lineup a bit. Jamie McBain will play his first game on defense, with rookie Justin Faulk joining fellow blueliners Ryan Murphy, this year's 12th overall pick, and Derek Joslin as scratches.
Up front, the top line of Eric Staal between Jeff Skinner and Chad LaRose remains intact, but Carolina coach Paul Maurice has switched up the combinations of the other three units.
Francois St. Laurent and Mike Leggo will be the referees, with Brian Murphy and Jean Morin working the lines.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-Tyler Seguin-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Rich Peverley
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Jordan Caron
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Joe Corvo
Dennis Seidenberg-Johnny Boychuk
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: David Krejci (core injury), Matt Bartkowski, Steven Kampfer (knee)
Projected Hurricanes lines
Forwards
Jeff Skinner-Eric Staal-Chad LaRose
Alexei Ponikarovsky-Jussi Jokinen-Tuomo Ruutu
Jiri Tlusty-Brandon Sutter-Patrick Dwyer
Zac Dalpe-Tim Brent-Anthony Stewart
Defense
Bryan Allen-Tim Gleason
Tomas Kaberle-Jay Harrison
Joni Pitkanen-Jamie McBain
Goalies
Cam Ward
Brian Boucher
Scratches: Justin Faulk, Ryan Murphy, Derek Joslin
