Grzelcyk, Backes Remain Out; Bruins Retool Lineup For Game 6

After dressing seven defensemen and eleven forwards on Thursday night in Game 5, the Boston Bruins’ lineup will look differently tonight. The Bruins are returning to a standard 12F/6D formation as they try to keep their season alive and force a Game 7.

The Bruins, per the club, will once again be without D Matt Grzelcyk. First reported by Rear Admiral of Barstool Sports, Grzelcyk was not cleared from the concussion protocol. Like on Thursday, Grzelcyk will not be an option for coach Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy expressed hope on Friday that Grzelcyk would be available tonight, hoping the extra day would make a difference.

Also out of the lineup is David Backes, a healthy scratch for the second straight game. The veteran, in the lineup or not, has provided strong leadership to a young Boston team all postseason long. He’ll have to provide it off the ice for the second time this series, as Cassidy elects to go with more speed and skill.

The good news for Boston? They’ll have Zdeno Chara in the lineup. The captain, who broke his jaw blocking a shot in Game 4, has not missed a game and believes he is “fine playing“.

Steven Kampfer, who dressed as the seventh defender on Thursday, is the odd man out on the blueline. The 12th forward in the lineup will be Karson Kuhlman, who makes his Stanley Cup Final Debut.

Based off of practice yesterday, here is how the Bruins are expected to lineup tonight.

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Karson Kuhlman
Marcus Johansson – Charlie Coyle – Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom – Sean Kuraly – Noel Acciari

Zdeno Chara – Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
John Moore – Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask