(Photo Credit: Michael Dwyer/AP Photo)

By: Jack Studley  |  Follow me on Twitter/X @jackstudley13

The Boston Bruins (5-7-0) are looking to make it two in a row when the Buffalo Sabres (4-4-2) come to town on Thursday night at the TD Garden. The Bruins are coming off a 5-2 win on home ice against the New York Islanders, scoring five unanswered goals to erase a 2-0 deficit. This will be the second meeting between these two teams this month in Boston. The first one favored the black and gold, with a 3-1 victory on October 11.

The Bruins held a morning skate at 10:30 AM on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena ahead of the game. Marat Khusnutdinov skated on the first line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak, a move Marco Sturm made after the Bruins trailed the Islanders 2-0 on Tuesday. Morgan Geekie, the NHL’s leading scorer since January 12, skated on the third line alongside Tanner Jeannot and Fraser Minten. After Tuesday’s game, Sturm praised the new line combinations, saying they generated the response he sought.

Hampus Lindholm did not skate this morning, but it’s all for a good reason. Lindholm was with his fiancée, Amanda, as they welcomed their daughter. According to Belle Fraser of the Boston Bruins, Marco Sturm said Lindholm is expected to play tonight. Per the Boston Sports Journal’s Joe Haggerty, Marco Sturm added that the lineup would remain the same as Tuesday, making Mason Lohrei a scratch. Jonathan Aspirot will play in his second career NHL game. He had four blocked shots in 14:40 of ice time during his debut on Tuesday.

Buffalo’s penalty kill is strong, ranked at the top of the league at 91.2%. The Bruins’ power play has recently succeeded, going two-for-four against the Islanders on Tuesday, and sitting at 22.0% on the year. This will be a strong test for the black and gold’s man advantage. In the first meeting against Buffalo, the Bruins’ power play went zero-for-four.

After the morning skate on Thursday, Scott McLaughlin of WEEI reported that Marco Sturm said Joonas Korpisalo would be in goal. This will be his second straight start. Korpisalo stood tall during Tuesday’s game, making 29 consecutive saves en route to a 5-2 win. Korpisalo has gone 2-3-0 in five starts, putting up a 3.62 GAA and an .870 save percentage. Buffalo will likely roll with Alex Lyon, as Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio reported he was the first goalie off the ice during their optional morning skate.

The Sabres are still looking for their first road win of the season; they have posted a 0-2-1 road record in their three away games. The Bruins are looking to improve on their 4-3-0 home record. The Bruins and Sabres will get underway with puck drop just after 7:00 PM from the TD Garden. The game will be broadcast locally on NESN.