Berkshire Bank Faceoff: Projected Lines, Pairings For Bruins-Blues

BOSTON — The Bruins will look to close out their pre-Christmas slate on a high note Tuesday as they host the St. Louis Blues at TD Garden.

The Bruins have gone an impressive 11-1-3 in their last 15 games and enter Tuesday just one point out of first place in the Atlantic Division, but they’ll face a tough opponent in a Blues team that’s been among the NHL’s best this season.

St. Louis enters the game tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for second place in the Central Division, four points behind the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars.

Tuesday’s matchup will feature a return to the lineup for Bruins winger Zac Rinaldo, who missed the last three contests with an upper body injury. He’s expected to slot in on Boston’s fourth line in place of Max Talbot, who was suspended two games Monday for a late hit during Sunday’s win over the New Jersey Devils.

Across the ice, the Bruins are expected to see old friend Jordan Caron, who is expected to make his Blues debut after being recalled from the American Hockey League earlier this week. Caron played in 134 games for the Bruins over five seasons before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche this past March in the deal that sent Talbot to Boston.

Here are Tuesday’s projected lines and pairings, as reported by the teams:

BOSTON BRUINS (19-9-4)
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — Brett Connolly
Matt Beleskey — David Krejci — Loui Eriksson
Frank Vatrano — Ryan Spooner — Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo — Landon Ferraro — Tyler Randell

Zdeno Chara — Adam McQuaid
Dennis Seidenberg — Colin Miller
Torey Krug — Kevan Miller

Tuukka Rask

ST. LOUIS BLUES (20-11-4)
Alexander Steen — Paul Stastny — Vladimir Tarasenko
Magnus Paajarvi — David Backes — Troy Brouwer
Robby Fabbri — Jori Lehtera — Dmitrij Jaskin
Jordan Caron — Scottie Upshall — Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester — Alex Pietrangelo
Joel Edmundson — Kevin Shattenkirk
Carl Gunnarsson — Colton Parayko

Jake Allen

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images