By: Jack Studley | Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13
The Boston Bruins have two preseason games remaining. Tonight is one of them. The Bruins will travel and take on the Washington Capitals from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The Bruins fell to Washington on home ice 5-2 in the first game of the preseason, but have since picked up two wins and a shootout loss. Tonight’s game is on NESN and will start at 7:00 PM.
The Bruins announced the roster they will be traveling to Washington with. The roster is made of many bubble players, who are making one last push to impress the coaching staff and stay with the NHL squad. Marco Sturm and his staff have decisions to make before Saturday’s home game and before the Bruins return to Washington on Wednesday, kicking off the regular season. When they return here next week, their roster will look much different.
Forwards
New acquisitions Matej Blumel and Alex Steeves will continue to get a chance to impress the Bruins coaching staff. Both skaters are suiting up for their fourth preseason game in the new Bruins sweater, with Blumel getting on the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden. Matt Poitras will join them as he plays his fourth preseason game. The third-year Bruin is looking to make his third consecutive opening day roster.
Mark Kastelic and Marat Khusnutdinov are also skating for the Bruins tonight. Khusnutdinov scored against the Rangers, tying the game and forcing overtime for the Bruins. Kastelic has not made it to the scoresheet yet, picking up four penalty minutes for the black and gold in two games played this preseason. Both returning Bruins have something to prove and show when they hit the ice tonight as they fight to make the roster.
Bruins prospects Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Johnny Beecher, and Riley Duran will also compete for a spot today. Lysell and Beecher, former first-round picks, have been battling throughout training camp for an NHL roster spot. Lysell has not picked up a point in the two preseason games he skated in, but Johnny Beecher tucked away an Alex Bump mistake behind the goal and got the Bruins on the board during the first period in Philadelphia. Duran and Merkulov played most of the last two seasons in Providence, but have been given an extended look to continue their production here. Both skaters picked up an assist during this preseason.
Providence Bruins captain Patrick Brown will also skate for the Bruins tonight. Brown scored the second goal in the first contest against Washington. Riley Tufte, the 6’6” winger who scored 42 points in 58 AHL games last season, will also check into the lineup tonight. Brett Harrison is on the roster; he is the only one who has yet to play in a preseason game for the Bruins.
Defensemen
Victor Soderstrom, Jordan Harris, Frederic Brunet, and Jonathan Aspirot are all getting extended looks this preseason and will be in the lineup tonight against Washington. Harris, the likely candidate for the seventh defenseman role, has an assist in the preseason but has excelled in carrying the puck and generating chances. Brunet will dress for his fourth game this preseason, and Aspirot for his third. Victor Soderstrom is looking to bounce back; his -4 is the lowest amongst all Bruins defenseman in the exhibition games leading up to October 8.
Some familiar faces on the Bruins’ blue line tonight include Mason Lohrei, Henri Jokiharju, and Michael Callahan. The Bruins signed all three of those guys to extensions this summer, and tonight will be Lohrei and Jokiharju’s third game of the preseason, and Callahan’s second. Lohrei has been on display during the power play, and against Philadelphia on Saturday, the coaching staff had him use his size in front of the goal.
Marco Sturm experimented with the defensive pairs throughout the first four games of the preseason, giving us a preview of what we might see this season. Tonight’s contest allows Sturm to work with the depth chart and understand what kinds of players he can call on throughout the year.
Goaltenders
Two of the three goalies remaining in the Boston camp are traveling, and Simon Zajicek is coming from the Providence camp for the trip to Washington. Michael DiPietro and Joonas Korpisalo compete for a spot on the NHL roster come opening night. DiPietro has played in two games, picking up a win and a loss, and stopping 40 of the 48 shots he has seen. Korpisalo has played in one game, the 5-4 comeback win over the Rangers, and he made 34 saves. Jeremy Swayman will not travel with the Bruins tonight.
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