Boston Bruins

Game 35: Update: McAvoy Out. Boston Bruins Vs. Flyers Lines, Preview

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2021

**UPDATE**

Just as Boston Bruins rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman was about to take warmups, he, his teammates, and the public found out that the team’s best defenseman and Norris Trophy candidate Charlie McAvoy is out with an upper-body injury. We will have more details as the game goes on or after the postgame presser with head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Can Boston Bruins rookie goaltender Jeremy Swayman help the Bruins (19-10-6, 44 pts, .629%) get points in two straight games for the first time since March 16-18 and win the rematch with the Philadelphia Flyers (18-14-5, 41 pts, .554%) in Philadelphia in the second of a home and home set with the Broad Street Bullies?

After fellow rookie netminder Dan Vladar made 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers in Boston Monday night, Swayman will try to give a similar performance in his first NHL start. Head Coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t seem too worried that the former University of Maine standout and 2020 Hobey Baker Award Finalist could handle the big moment.

“Well, ‘Goalie Bob’ [Essensa] will talk to him obviously and he’ll still get his shooter’s perspective because he was with us last night and that helps him to see a little bit of their style of play,” Cassidy told the media Tuesday morning. “But you’re gonna get your first game sooner or later, so here we are in the middle of a busy week and he knows he might go right back in it if Tuukka and Jaro aren’t ready. So, I don’t think he’s thinking too far ahead about that. He’s just thinking about making his first save and the next save after that.

I think every kid dreams about this opportunity and he’s getting his. He’s played well in Providence, condensed schedule there as well. He’s gotten some good reps and gotten some game situations being up here for practice so hopefully, he’s up to the task.”

Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (knee) will finally return to the lineup after missing the last 20 games and forward Chris Wagner draws in for the first time in six games.

Bruins Notes

–Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo has been downgraded from day-to-day to week-to-week with his upper-body injury and isn’t expected to return to game action for the Boston Bruins anytime soon. Carlo had just returned on March 30, from a month-long absence due to a concussion suffered after a Tom Wilson headshot and the fear is that his current upper-body injury is in some way connected to that injury.

–Boston Bruins winger Ondrej Kase remains on IR with an upper-body injury. While Kase has been skating, his return date is not known.

Flyers Notes

— For a Flyers perspective on Monday night’s game and a great preview of tonight, our colleague Ryan Gilbert of Philly Hockey Now has you covered!

Boston Bruins Lines

Forwards:

Brad Marchand- Patrice Bergeron- Craig Smith

Nick Ritchie- David Krejci- David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk- Charlie Coyle- Karson Kuhlman

Trent Frederic- Sean Kuraly- Chris Wagner

Defense:

Matt Grzelcyk – Kevan Miller

Jakub Zboril – Steven Kampfer