Bruins Newcomers Expected To Contribute Right Away

BOSTON — The Bruins are bringing a couple of new faces into the fold on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed that forwards Riley Tufte and Georgii Merkulov would enter the lineup for a matinee tilt at TD Garden, replacing John Beecher and Patrick Brown.

It’s another bold shift for Boston, which continues looking for the right formula.

“Merkulov and Tufte were both called up, and they’re both going into the lineup,” Montgomery told reporters prior to the game. “… (Merkulov) is playing left wing, and he’s someone who has produced a lot in the American (Hockey) League. I’m hoping he can help us out five-on-five and on the power-play.”

Merkulov, 24, recorded two goals and nine assists with Providence this season, routinely serving as a scoring spark for the club over the last couple of seasons. Boston called him up for a limited run in 2023-24 when he scored zero points in four games.

Tufte, 26, appeared in two games with Boston this season before being sent down to Providence for a six-game stint — recording three goals and one assist. The Bruins expect that his size (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) will make a difference with this group.

“He scored 27 goals in the American League last year for Colorado,” Montgomery said of Tufte. “It’s something with his size and strength — besides being able to be heavy on the forecheck — where he can get to the net front, put people on his back and get inside the dots for scoring changes.”

Merkulov and Tufte are both expected to play alongside Mark Kastelic on the fourth line, which has been a winning formula for most players this season.