BOSTON – The Bruins could get one of their injured defensemen back as they host the Islanders Saturday afternoon at the Garden.
Bruins coach Claude Julien stated that Andrew Ference (lower body) will definitely be out, but Johnny Boychuk will be a game-time decision. Boychuk has missed the last two games with a mild concussion suffered on a hit from Chris Neil in Ottawa last Saturday.
The Bruins will have seven defensemen on the ice for warm-ups. If Boychuk can go, either Mike Mottau or Joe Corvo will likely be the healthy scratch.
Boston does not have any extra healthy bodies up front, and Julien stated that there will be no changes to the line combinations after he shook things up on Thursday and the new combination of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin combined for all four goals in a 4-3 overtime win over the Devils.
Projected Bruins lines
Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Brian Rolston
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Jordan Caron
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Defense
Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg
Greg Zanon-Joe Corvo
Mike Mottau-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Scratches: Nathan Horton (concussion), Rich Peverley (knee), Andrew Ference (lower body), Johnny Boychuk (concussion)
Projected Islanders lines
Forwards
Matt Moulson-John Tavares-P.A. Parenteau
David Ullstrom-Frans Nielsen-Josh Bailey
Nino Niederreiter-Casey Cizikas-Kyle Okposo
Matt Martin-Marty Reasoner-Jay Pandolfo
Defense
Andrew MacDonald-Travis Hamonic
Mark Streit-Steve Staios
Mark Eaton-Milan Jurcina
Goalies
Evgeni Nabokov
Al Montoya
Scratches: Michael Grabner (illness), Dylan Reese
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