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Patrice Bergeron Returns To Practice, Studnicka Absent For Bruins

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Patrice Bergeron Bruins

After missing practice on Monday, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was back in his normal spot on Tuesday. Bergeron centered the top-line at practice with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak on his wings. It was one of two notable changes for the club in advance of Wednesday’s round-robin date with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jack Studnicka, who had skated on the second line in each of the club’s first two games, was not present for the club’s skate. Studnicka rotated in at both center and wing on Monday.

In Studnicka’s absence, Ondrej Kase skated on the right wing with David Krejci. Fellow trade deadline acquisition Nick Ritchie skated on the left wing. Karson Kuhlman also rotated in at Studnicka’s spot with Kase.

Studnicka skated with the team’s second group on Tuesday, per Bruce Cassidy. He will not be in the lineup on Wednesday.

CASSIDY SPEAKS

Ritchie could make his postseason debut for the Bruins on Wednesday. Head coach Bruce Cassidy all but confirmed it on Monday. Tuesday’s practice role only further proves the notion that he’ll be in the lineup.

“[Ritchie] would be a guy that we are planning on being in the lineup,” said Cassidy on Monday. “Then, we would have to make a decision as to who comes out up front if Ritchie goes in.”

Bergeron’s return was a welcomed sign for the Bruins. It also wasn’t exactly a surprise. Cassidy shutdown any potential concerns on Monday when he addressed Bergeron’s absence with the media.

“[It] was a maintenance day, that’s it,” Cassidy said on Monday. “He’s fine.”

Tuukka Rask was on the ice for a second straight day. Rask was ‘unfit to play’ on Sunday in the club’s 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He returned to practice Monday after being in quarantine for two days.

“I had a cough, so I just clicked yes on the app and then all kinds of red lights started blinking,” said Rask. “I quarantined for two days. They wanted to do two negative tests after that. It wasn’t easy lying in bed for a couple of days and being quarantined.”

The Bruins will take on the Lightning in the second of three round-robin games. The Bruins are currently the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference through one game.

TUESDAY’S LINES

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Nick Ritchie – David Krejci – Ondrej Kase/Karson Kuhlman
Anders Bjork – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk
Joakim Nordstrom – Sean Kuraly/Par Lindholm – Chris Wagner

Zdeno Chara – Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk – Jeremy Lauzon
John Moore – Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak

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