Bruins-Blue Jackets Projected Lines, Pairings: Key Defenseman Returns

The Bruins look to snap a two-game skid as they continue their three-game homestand on Monday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Boston suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blues on Saturday afternoon after defeating St. Louis on the road at Enterprise Center last Tuesday.

The Bruins will get a boost on the blue line with Andrew Peeke returning from an upper-body injury he sustained during the Boston’s matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 5.

The Black and Gold will be without two-thirds of the fourth line, with Cole Koepke a healthy scratch for the contest, and Mark Kastelic, who left Saturday’s loss with an injury, will be sidelined for the night. The Bruins recalled forward Jeffrey Viel from Providence. The veteran has two goals and two assists in 14 games this season and will make his Bruins debut.

Jeremy Swayman will get the nod for the Bruins between the pipes and Columbus will give Elvis Merzlikins the start.

Puck drop for the Bruins-Blue Jackets matchup at TD Garden on Monday is scheduled at 7 p.m. ET, and you can catch full coverage on NESN after an hour of pregame.

Here are the projected lines and defensive pairings for both sides.

BOSTON BRUINS (8-8-3)
Morgan Geekie — Pavel Zacha — David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand — Elias Lindholm — Justin Brazeau
Georgii Merkulov — Charlie Coyle — Trent Frederic
Jeffrey Viel — John Beecher — Tyler Johnson

Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
Mason Lohrei — Brandon Carlo
Jordan Oesterle — Andrew Peeke

Jeremy Swayman

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (6-9-2)
Dmitri Voronkov — Sean Monahan — Kirill Marchenko
Cole Sillinger — Adam Fantilli — Yegor Chinakhov
Mikael Pyyhtia – -Justin Danforth — Mathieu Olivier
Zachary Aston-Reese — Sean Kuraly — Kevin Labanc

Zach Werenski — Dante Fabbro
Ivan Provorov — Damon Severson
Jake Christiansen — Jordan Harris

Elvis Merzlikins