BOSTON — The Bruins didn’t make any changes to their lines and pairings at Friday’s practice following a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
Brian Ferlin was not among the extra forwards because he was assigned to the Providence Bruins on Friday morning. Ferlin played in six straight games from Feb. 20 through March 5, but he did not play in 10 of the last 11 games. The 22-year-old winger tallied one assist in seven games for Boston.
Going back to Providence will help Ferlin because he needs regular playing time and the P-Bruins are in the midst of a playoff push.
Brett Connolly skated with the team for the second straight day. He’s working his way back from a fractured finger on his right hand. Connolly said after Thursday’s morning skate that he’s “getting closer” to a return and hopes to play in a few regular-season games. He was the fourth forward on the Milan Lucic-Ryan Spooner-David Pastrnak line during Friday’s session.
Daniel Paille alternated with Chris Kelly at left wing on the fourth line. Paille was a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game.
The Bruins will host the New York Rangers in their next game Saturday afternoon. The Blueshirts are not practicing Friday, so it’s not yet known if Henrik Lundqvist or Cam Talbot will start in net. Lundqvist has been Talbot’s backup for two straight games since being medically cleared to play. He hasn’t appeared in a game since Feb. 2 because of an upper body injury.
Here are the Bruins lines, pairings and goaltenders from Friday’s practice:
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Krejci
Milan Lucic-Ryan Spooner-David Pastrnak
Reilly Smith-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
Kelly/Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Max Talbot
Zdeno Chara-Adam McQuaid
Torey Krug-Dennis Seidenberg
Matt Bartkowski-Zach Trotman
Tuukka Rask, Niklas Svedberg
Thumbnail photo via James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports Images
