Studnicka could go in if Krejci can't play
It’s not totally clear yet if David Krejci will be able to play Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers in Lake Tahoe, so Jack Studnicka appears to be joining the Boston Bruins just in case.
Krejci left Thursday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury, and B’s head coach Bruce Cassidy had no further update after the game.
When the Bruins flew to Lake Tahoe on Friday, a social media post from the team showed Studnicka getting on the flight.
Since recovering from an undisclosed injury, Studnicka has been playing with the Providence Bruins. He was not in the lineup for their Friday afternoon game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, which was the first indication he might be joining the big club.
Studnicka’s path to NHL playing time thus far has been as a winger, but he is a natural center and projects as a full-time pivot when he becomes an everyday NHL player.
If Cassidy elects to go in a different direction than Studnicka, taxi squad center Greg McKegg likely would be an option. He’s yet to play in a game for the Bruins this season.
Three Bruins and six Flyers already have been ruled out for Sunday. As for other spares, the Bruins also are bringing Steven Kampfer, Karson Kuhlman and Callum Booth on the trip.