With Miller Out, Boston Bruins Turn To Jarred Tinordi

As expected, rugged Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi will draw in for the injured and also rugged rearguard Kevan Miller in Game 5 tonight against the Washington Capitals.

Miller was ruled out for Game 5 on Saturday after spending Friday night in the hospital with concussion compliments of Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov who launched into an unsuspecting Miller and knocked him out of the Bruins’ 4-1 win in Game 4. Following an optional practice on Saturday, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media that thanks to injuries to rookie rearguards Jeremy Lauzon and Jacob Zboril, he was down to Tinordi or rookie Urho Vaakanainen to replace Miller.

With his team on the verge of eliminating the Capitals and advancing to the second round, Cassidy chose the more experienced and physical Tinordi over rookie Urho Vaakanainen.

“We’re well down the food chain with the D this year, much like in years past,” Cassidy said after a full pregame skate Sunday morning. “Right now, Tinordi’s getting the call. He’s played more for us than Vaak this year, so he should be more playoff-ready. I thought he played well here in the last game of the season. He’s worked hard. It’s just a matter of getting your feet under you quickly here.”

Besides maybe the Tampa Bay Lightning-Florida Panthers series, this series between the Boston Bruins and the Capitals has been arguably the most physical in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Orlov hit was one of many questionable hits from both sides in Game 4 and with the Caps facing elimination, the physicality won’t let up in Game 5. That’s why Tinordi seems like the perfect fit to replace Miller.

“He’s a big guy, so they’ll know when he’s on the ice,” Cassidy explained when asked what the 6-foot-6, 230-pound rearguard will bring to the lineup tonight. “I’m sure they’ll have their scouting report on him and where they can break him down. It’s a good matchup for him with some big wingers [on the Capitals]. He’s mobile, he can get in their way and slow them down.”

Tinordi knows that’s what the Boston Bruins picked him up off waivers for on February 27 and he doesn’t plan to try and be something he isn’t in Game 5.

“For me, personally, nothing really changes to my game,” Tinordi said after the pre-game skate. “I’ve tried to be physical and be that presence, and just carry that over from the regular season. That’s an element I can help this team in. Just do my job, be smart about it. We take care of the details, it puts us in a good position.”