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

The Boston Bruins officially will reach the halfway point of their season Monday night as they visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Perhaps the must thrilling game of the Bruins’ season to date came against these same Rangers, with Boston scoring twice in the final four minutes to pull out a stunning 4-3 win on Black Friday.

The Bruins are expected to ice the same lineup Monday as they did in Saturday night’s overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, with forwards Brett Connolly and Zac Rinaldo and defenseman Joe Morrow sitting as healthy scratches.

Tuukka Rask reportedly was the first goalie to leave the ice following Boston’s morning skate, meaning he’ll likely get the nod opposite the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist. Rask has taken the loss in five of his last six starts, but he allowed just one regulation goal Saturday against the Senators.

UPDATE (6:45 p.m. ET): In a change from the originally anticipated lineup, Frank Vatrano and Tyler Randell will sit out the game as healthy scratches, with Connolly and Rinaldo returning to action. This will be the first healthy scratch of Vatrano’s NHL career.

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

BOSTON BRUINS (21-14-5)
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — David Pastrnak
Matt Beleskey — Ryan Spooner — Loui Eriksson
Brett Connolly — Joonas Kemppainen — Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo — Max Talbot — Landon Ferraro

Zdeno Chara — Zach Trotman
Dennis Seidenberg — Colin Miller
Torey Krug — Kevan Miller

Tuukka Rask

NEW YORK RANGERS (22-14-5)
J.T. Miller — Derick Brassard — Mats Zuccarello
Rick Nash — Derek Stepan — Jayson Megna
Chris Kreider — Kevin Hayes — Jesper Fast
Tanner Glass — Dominic Moore — Viktor Stalberg

Ryan McDonagh — Kevin Klein
Marc Staal — Dan Boyle
Keith Yandle — Dan Girardi

Henrik Lundqvist

Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images