By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
On Thursday night, the Boston Bruins (3-5-0) will host the Anaheim Ducks (3-2-1). This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season and the only one at the TD Garden. The Boston Bruins, in the middle of a three-game homestand, are battling a five-game losing streak, which got worse on Tuesday night due to a bad bounce. The black and gold are looking to steer the ship back on course. Anaheim comes into Boston in the middle of a five-game road trip and is coming off a 5-2 win in Nashville on Tuesday.
During the Bruins’ morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday morning, Jeffrey Viel and Mikey Eyssimont swapped spots. Viel will play alongside Tanner Jeannot and Fraser Minten on the third line, and Mikey Eyssimont will line up with Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic. Viel will suit up for his third game of the regular season; he was a +2 in 11:50 of time on ice in his season debut, and he fought Jonah Gadjovich on Tuesday night. Viel is looking for his first point of the season.
The Bruins’ coaching staff also shook up the defense pairs. Mason Lohrei and Charlie McAvoy remain the top pair of defense. Nikita Zadorov slides up to the second pair, playing on the left side of Andrew Peeke. Michael Callahan was called up on Wednesday because Jordan Harris was placed on IR. He skated with Henri Jokiharju on the third defense pair before the game. “He is going to be [a] game-time [decision],” Marco Sturm said about Hampus Lindholm, who skated as the extra defenseman on Thursday morning, “both sides want to feel comfortable moving forward.” Joonas Korpisalo will go in goal; he is 1-2-0 with a .865 SV% and a 3.36 GAA.
Anaheim enters Boston with a wave of younger talent; 20-year-old Leo Carlsson leads the Ducks with seven points in six games, 22-year-old Mason McTavish has six, and 21-year-old Cutter Gauthier has five. The Ducks’ powerplay has been clicking at a 20% rate, and they are in the top ten in goals for throughout the NHL. Chris Kreider, a native of Boxford, MA, was traded to Anaheim this summer, but, according to Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune, he is not on the ice today. Kreider missed the Ducks’ game on Tuesday due to illness.
The Boston Bruins are looking to snap a five-game losing streak that started on home ice ten days ago. The Ducks won both meetings against the Bruins last season, but the Bruins have the upper hand in their last ten with a 5-3-2 record. The Bruins will host Hockey Fights Cancer night at the TD Garden. The game starts at 7:00 PM, and NESN will broadcast the game for fans in the New England area.
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