Moore Out, Lewington Set To Make Boston Bruins Debut

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins continue to fight through injuries on the back end as defenseman Tyler Lewington will suit up and play his first game for the B’s on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.

Lewington will be pushed into the lineup from the taxi squad because John Moore (upper body) was knocked out of Wednesday night’s win over the Canadiens, and both Connor Clifton and Derek Forbort are still stuck in the NHL’s COVID protocols. The Bruins had an issue with a ridiculously late Michael Pezzetta hit that knocked Moore out of Wednesday night’s win over the Canadiens and was left uncalled by the officials on the ice.

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— Mr. Tenkrat (@PeterTenkrat) January 13, 2022

“We thought the hit was late on Johnny Moore, first of all, [and] probably unnecessary. Refs didn’t see it that way, who knows how it’ll look,” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “But whatever the case is, it’s the same player initiating contact in vulnerable spots so, you know, we’re going to push back. And we did. Good for our guys.”

Cassidy was referencing another Pezzetta hit that clobbered Matt Grzelcyk behind the Boston net, a late, borderline interference hit that Patrice Bergeron responded to earning a minor penalty.

“Trust me, when these hits happen if Bergy’s not on the ice he points it out on the bench right away. [He’ll say] ‘we finish every check.’ He doesn’t get up and say ‘we need to kill this guy,’ we just have to finish every check,” said Cassidy. “We’ve got to respond and push back, whatever words you want to use and let them know we’re not going to take that whether it’s in our building or [the other team’s] building. We’re missing a bit of size obviously with (Trent Frederic) and (Nick Foligno) going out on the last trip but other guys have to step up. When it’s your turn, it’s your turn and be physical.”

It was Bergeron’s turn on Wednesday night along with Bruins center Erik Haula defending himself from a Chris Wideman head-butt that’s earned him an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Chris Wideman headbutts Erik Haula in a scrum.

Erik Haula, as expected, is less than thrilled.

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— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 13, 2022

It all leads to the Boston Bruins digging deep into their defensemen depth, as Clifton was forced to take a car service back from Washington DC and Forbort making his way back from Florida while both are still out of the lineup.