The Boston Bruins are trying to surge out of a break again as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bruce Cassidy will have the services of Erik Haula at his disposal Tuesday at TD Garden when the Bruins host the Penguins. Haula had been in COVID-19 protocol prior to the NHL All-Star break, but the week off has given him time to reintegrate himself into the squad. He'll center Boston's second line, with his return moving Tomas Nosek back to the middle of the fourth line.
Having overcome lower- and upper-body injuries he suffered late last month, Nick Foligno is set to return to action as the fourth-line left wing, joining Nosek and Curtis Lazar on that unit.
Connor Clifton likely will be back in the lineup as Derek Forbert's partner on Boston's third defensive pairing. Clifton replaces Urho Vaakanainen, who suffered a nasty injury last week against the Seattle Kraken.
Jeremy Swayman is expected to start at goaltender for the Bruins. Linus Ullmark will be his backup.
NESN will air Bruins versus Penguins in full, with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Here are the projected lines and defensive pairings for Bruins-Penguins:
BOSTON BRUINS (26-14-3)
Brad Marchand--Patrice Bergeron--Craig Smith
Taylor Hall--Erik Haula--David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk--Charlie Coyle-- Oskar Steen
Nick Foligno--Tomas Nosek-Curtis Lazar
Matt Grzelcyk--Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly--Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort--Connor Clifton
Jeremy Swayman
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (27-11-8)
Jake Guentzel--Sidney Crosby--Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn--Jeff Carter--Kasperi Kapanen
Radim Zohorna--Evan Rodrigues-Danton Heinen
Zach Aston-Reese–-Brian Boyle--Dominik Simon
Brian Dumoulin--Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson--John Marino
Michael Matheson--Chad Ruhwedel
Tristan Jarry
These projected lines and defensive pairings are presented by Berkshire Bank, the official bank of NESN’s Boston Bruins coverage.
