One of the Boston Bruins’ defensive fixtures likely will be back in the lineup Thursday in Game 4 of the B’s first-round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After missing Game 3 with a lower-body injury, it appears Matt Grzelcyk is healthy and will be back in the lineup for Thursday’s contest at Air Canada Centre, head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters Wednesday.
“It’s looking like (Grzelcyk’s) got a good chance to play,” Cassidy said, via Bruins.com
Nick Holden, who filled in for Grzelcyk in Monday’s 4-2 Game 3 loss, figures to be the odd-man out. Grzelcyk skated on the third pairing with Adam McQuaid during Wednesday’s practice.
The rookie has been a routine contributor to the Bruins’ blue line for the majority of this season. He has paired exceptionally well with skaters like McQuaid and Kevan Miller, who are more stay-at-home defenseman, which couples well with Grzelcyk’s puck-moving nature.
And with Toronto being far more of a speed team than one that plays heavy, Grzelyck’s reinsertion into the lineup is important.
“He’s got the foot speed to be able to match that part of the game, when they take off,” Cassidy said. “Just like they counter, we’ve been a pretty good transition team all year and can strike off turnovers or punted pucks if they’re not structured. So, he adds to that.
“He’s a guy who can get it up in a hurry, doesn’t always have to go D-to-D, gets around it, it’s gone, usually delivers a good pass,” Cassidy added. “That’s the part of the game that we missed the other night. Nick was fine, but that’s Grizz’s strength. I think he’s defended very well for a young guy in the league, for a guy that’s 175 pounds. He’s done a real good job figuring out how to defend, so we missed him the other night.”
Grzelcyk slashed 3-12-15 this season over 61 games, cementing himself as an everyday player after being recalled from Providence on Nov. 21.
