The Boston Bruins are making a series of lineup changes in an effort to gain a foothold in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy is expected to return right wing David Pastrnak to the top line Friday night in Bruins-Hurricanes Game 3. Pastrnak had been playing on the second line since January, but he’ll rejoin Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, restoring the so-called “perfection line.”
Pastrnak’s return to the top moves Jake DeBrusk to the second line.
Another forward tweak comes on the third line, as Tomas Nosek moves to left wing from fourth-line center. He’ll play alongside center Charlie Coyle and right wing Craig Smith, and Trent Frederic likely will be a healthy scratch.
Chris Wagner will see his first action of this year’s playoffs as he returns to the lineup as the fourth-line right wing. Curtis Lazar shifts to center to fill the vacancy Nosek’s move creates.
The Bruins already have ruled out defenseman Hampus Lindholm due to the injury he suffered in Game 2. Mike Reilly is expected to move up to the top pairing and play alongside Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk likely will drop to the second unit, where he’ll join Brandon Carlo.
Jeremy Swayman will start as the Bruins’ goaltender, hoping to backstop Boston to its first win in the series. Linus Ullmark will be his backup.
NESN will air Bruins-Hurricanes Game 3 in full. Pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET with “Bruins Face-Off Live: Eastern Conference First Round.” Puck drop from PNC Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. and postgame coverage will immediately follow the conclusion of the game.
Remember to follow all the Bruins-Hurricanes coverage using the NESN app or via Watch NESN Live if you’re on the go.
Here’s how the teams are projected to line up Friday night.
BOSTON BRUINS (0-2)
Brad Marchand–Patrice Bergeron–David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall–Erik Haula–Jake DeBrusk
Tomas Nosek–Charlie Coyle–Craig Smith
Nick Foligno–Curtis Lazar–Chris Wagner
Mike Reilly–Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk–Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort–Connor Clifton
Jeremy Swayman
CAROLINA HURRICANES (2-0)
Andrei Svechnikov–Sebastian Aho–Seth Jarvis
Max Domi–Vincent Trocheck–Teuvo Teravainen
Nino Niederreiter–Jordan Staal–Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook–Jesperi Kotkaniemi–Martin Necas
Jaccob Slavin–Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei–Brett Pesce
Brendan Smith–Ian Cole
Pyotr Kochetkov
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