Bruins-Blue Jackets Projected Lines, Pairings: Boston Stands Pat

The Bruins will kickstart a home-and-home series with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, with the first leg coming at Nationwide Arena.

Boston will keep its lineup from before Christmas.

Charlie Coyle will remain on the same line as Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand, while Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak will remain together. Cole Koepke is expected to remain in the lineup in place of Marc McLaughlin, though Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco hadn’t made a final decision following morning skate.

“The start is going to be important for us tonight,” Sacco said, per team-provided video. “I would imagine they’re going to come out with some pace tonight in their game and we have to be ready to respond to that.”

Joonas Korpisalo will get the start over Jeremy Swayman.

Boston and Columbus are set to drop the puck at 7 p.m. ET, following an hour of pregame coverage on NESN.

We have the projected lines and defensive pairings for both sides:

BOSTON BRUINS (19-13-4)
Brad Marchand — Elias Lindholm — Charlie Coyle
Morgan Geekie — Pavel Zacha — David Pastrnak
Justin Brazeau — Trent Frederic — Oliver Wahlstrom
John Beecher — Mark Kastelic — Cole Koepke

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

Joonas Korpisalo

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (14-15-6)
Dmitri Voronkov — Sean Monahan — Kirill Marchenko
James van Riemsdyk — Adam Fantilli — Zach Aston-Reese
Kent Johnson — Cole Sillinger — Mathieu Olivier
Mikael Pyyhtia — Sean Kuraly — Jack Johnson

Zach Werenski — Dante Fabbro
Denton Mateychuk — Ivan Provorov
Jake Christiansen — Damon Severson

Elvis Merzlikins