Bruins’ Lake Tahoe Lines, Pairings Feature Jack Studnicka, Urho Vaakanainen

Looks like Vaakanainen might make his season debut Sunday

by

Feb 20, 2021

Get ready for a new-look Boston Bruins.

Kind of, not really.

Five players -- David Krejci, Kevan Miller, Ondrej Kase, Matt Grzelcyk and Jakub Zboril -- did not take part in practice Saturday, meaning they likely didn't travel with the team to Lake Tahoe (the latter three were already ruled out).

So when the Bruins face the Philadelphia Flyers in Sunday's outdoor game, things might look a little different.

Here were the lines and pairings for Saturday's practice, per the team.

Brad Marchand--Patrice Bergeron--David Pastrnak
Nick Ritchie--Charlie Coyle--Craig Smith
Anders Bjork--Jack Studnicka--Jake DeBrusk
Trent Frederic--Sean Kuraly--Chris Wagner

Jeremy Lauzon--Charlie McAvoy
Urho Vaakanainen--Brandon Carlo
John Moore--Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak

Karson Kuhlman and Greg McKegg skated as the extra forwards, Steven Kampfer as the spare defenseman and Callum Booth as the third goalie.

The most notable additions though are Vaakanainen and Studnicka.

If he plays Sunday, it will be Vaakanainen's season debut and eighth career NHL game. Both Jeremy Lauzon and Zboril have been solid this year, but this would give Vaakanainen, a 2018 first-round pick, the opportunity to stake claim to a roster spot.

As for Studnicka, this will be his first NHL opportunity as a center. A natural pivot who projects to be capable of handling such duties long term, his path to NHL playing time has come on the wing thus far. With Par Lindholm leaving for Sweden, Boston's center depth has thinned, paving the way for Studnicka.

Puck drop for Bruins-Flyers has been rescheduled 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Thumbnail photo via John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock
Previous Article

New Red Sox Reliever Garrett Whitlock Already Impressing Alex Cora

Boston Bruins center David Krejci
Next Article

Bruins Rule Out David Krejci, Kevan Miller For Lake Tahoe Game

Picked For You