Nordstrom Joins Pastrnak And Kase As ‘Unfit To Play’, Rask Returns

The Boston Bruins held another scrimmage Friday and once again, they did so without superstar winger David Pastrnak and fellow winger Ondrej Kase who missed their second straight practice and fourth this week after being deemed ‘unfit to play’ on Thursday. Forward Joakim Nordstrom was also missing from practice but thankfully for the Bruins, goalie Tuukka Rask was back between the pipes after leaving practice early and not returning on Thursday. 

Per league rules and as he did Thursday with Pastrnak and Kase, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy termed the Nordstrom absence as “Same reason as the guys yesterday, unfit to play.”

Anders Bjork once again filled in for Pastrnak on the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and rookie forward Karson Kuhlman got another look at right wing on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. The third and fourth lines remained the same as they have throughout the first week of camp.

Bjork has been getting a real serious look as a player Cassidy could look to should Kase and Pastrnak continue to remain out of the lineup.

“The message to everyone is be ready,” Cassidy said earlier in the week. “Obviously Anders, to me, is further along then Jack (Studnicka) in his career in terms of the time he’s spent up here. So, those might be different messages to be honest with you. As we go along in camp, let’s get everyone on the ice, let’s get the full group out there. There’s no use in me talking to Anders about being patient when he might be in there day one, we just don’t know until we get started. So, the message right now is put your best foot forward.”

After splitting time with Kuhlman in the second line right wing slot Thursday, fellow rookie forward Jack Studnicka was back at center on the reserve line Friday. He split time there with rookie Trent Frederic while rookie Zach Senyshyn and Paul Carey on the wings. 

Here’s what the lineup looked like:

Forwards

Marchand – Bergeron – Bjork

DeBrusk – Krejci – Kuhlman

Ritchie – Coyle – Kuraly

Blidh – Lindholm – Wagner

Carey – Studnicka/Frederic – Senyshyn

Defense

Chara – McAvoy

Krug – Carlo

Grzelcyk – Lauzon

Moore – Clifton

Vaakanainen – Zboril

Goalies

Rask

Halak

Vladar

Lagace