Berkshire Bank Hockey Night In New England: Projected Bruins-Sabres Lines, Pairings

The Boston Bruins face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night in their first meeting of the 2021-22 NHL season.

The Bruins have had an even start as they beat the Dallas Stars in their season opener but suffered a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy offered a few pregame updates Friday following Boston’s morning skate. He revealed Anton Blidh will be subbing in for injured Nick Foligno and will play left wing on the fourth line with Trent Frederic in the middle and Karson Kuhlman on the right. Cassidy also will move Tomas Nosek up to the third line right wing spot.

John Moore will be stepping in for Connor Clifton on the third defensive pairing, playing alongside Derek Forbort. Cassidy also bumped up Matt Grzelcyk to the first pairing next to star defenseman Charlie McAvoy.

Cassidy is confident starting Linus Ullmark in goal against the team he spent six NHL seasons playing with. It will be Ullmark’s debut for the Bruins.

“He knows their shooters better than anybody, and their shooters know him better than anybody,” Cassidy told reporters Thursday.

Here are the projected lines for Friday’s Bruins-Sabres game:

BOSTON BRUINS (1-1-0)
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall–Charlie Coyle–Craig Smith
Jake DeBrusk–Erik Haula– Tomas Nosek
Anton Blidh–Trent Frederic–Karson Khulman

Matt Grzelcyk–Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly–Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort–John Moore

Linus Ullmark

BUFFALO SABRES (3-0-0)
Jeff Skinner–Dylan Cozens–Vinnie Hinostroza
Rasmus Asplund–Tage Thompson–Victor Olofsson
Anders Bjork–Zemgus Girgensons–Kyle Okposo
Drake Caggiula–Arttu Ruotsalainen–John Hayden

Rasmus Dahlin–Will Butcher
Jacob Bryson–Collin Miller
Robert Hagg–Mark Pysyk
Mattias Samuelsson–Christian Wolanin

Craig Anderson