BOSTON — The Bruins second line has gone through some growing pains this season, and they’ll look to show some signs of consistency Saturday night.
The line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Loui Eriksson broke out Friday afternoon against the Rangers in a 3-2 win for the Bruins. Both Bergeron and Marchand scored goals while Eriksson added an assist.
Aside from a three-point showing by Eriksson against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 25, the line has been quieted lately. Bergeron’s goal snapped a six-game pointless streak, while Marchand’s tally was his first since Nov. 15. The winger also added an assist for his first multi-point game all season.
Of course, those accomplishments won’t mean much if that line goes out and regresses Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eriksson does have two goals and Bergeron two asissts against CBJ this season.
The Bruins’ lineup is expected to remain the same except for maybe a change in net after Tuukka Rask got the start Friday against the Rangers.
See the rest of the projected lines below.
Bruins (17-7-2, 36 points)
Milan Lucic — David Krejci — Jarome Iginla
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — Loui Eriksson
Carl Soderberg — Chris Kelly — Reilly Smith
Daniel Paille — Gregory Campbell — Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara — Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg — Dougie Hamilton
Torey Krug — Adam McQuaid
Blue Jackets (10-13-3, 23 points)
Boone Jenner — Ryan Johansen — Nick Foligno
Matt Calvert — Artem Anisimov — Cam Atkinson
R.J. Umberger — Mark Letestu — Blake Comeau
Sean Collins/Corey Tropp — Michael Chaput — Jack Skille
Jack Johnson — Fedor Tyutin
James Wisniewski — Ryan Murray
Nikita Nikitin — Daulton Prout
