By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
The Boston Bruins hit the ice at Warrior Ice Arena on Saturday morning for a crucial practice session as they prepare for Sunday afternoon’s pivotal Game Four matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. With Buffalo taking a 2-1 series lead after Thursday night’s disappointing 3-1 loss at TD Garden in Game Three, all eyes were on the Bruins’ line combinations and on the status of rookie forward James Hagens.
Head coach Marco Sturm made notable adjustments to the practice lines, seeking the right mix to ignite the Bruins’ offense and tighten up defensive lapses that proved costly in the previous contest. Veteran leaders and core contributors skated in their usual roles, but the big news was the apparent demotion of Hagens from regular line rushes on the third line to a merlot-jersey-wearing fifth-line practice member, signaling a likely change for Sunday’s matinee, scheduled for a 2pm puck drop at TD Garden.
On Friday’s media availability at TD Garden, Sturm addressed the media about the 19-year-old rookie, who has yet to register a point through his first three Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. “James has given us everything he has, but he made more mistakes last game than he’s done in the past,” Sturm said, suggesting the coaching staff might opt for a more experienced lineup in a must-win situation.
Hagens, Boston’s 2025 first-round pick, has shown flashes of promise, but the intensity and pressure of playoff hockey have posed a steep learning curve. As the Bruins look to tie the series, it appears likely that Hagens will watch Game Four from the press box to take in the game from a different perspective and use the unfortunate healthy-scratch experience as a positive, fighting tool to hopefully get back in the Bruins’ postseason lineup.
Look for Bruins forward Lukas Reichel to reunite with the third line, replacing Hagens. In this morning’s post-practice media availability, Sturm talked about the 23-year-old Reichel and said, “Lukas has something we don’t really have, that’s high-end skill and speed, that’s what we hope from him. He has to dig deep, he has to compete, but those are things you can’t teach. And we’re hoping to obviously get more into a forecheck and get some pucks back.” Sturm also added, “We have to make some decisions tomorrow, a few guys are banged up, so we’ll see.”
Sturm added when asked about Hagen’s drawing out of the lineup, “James didn’t do anything wrong. … Consistency, it’s a big thing. It’s hard. So, we take a breather, and I’m gonna use him again in the near future.”
Game Four between the Bruins and their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff opponent is set for 2pm Sunday at TD Garden, with Boston aiming to bounce back and even the series before heading back on the road. If you’re in the Boston area tomorrow afternoon and don’t have tickets to Sunday’s game against the visiting Buffalo Sabres, please join our Game Four watch party at the Blackmoor Bar + Kitchen at 1 Chelsea Street in Charlestown, Mass, not far from TD Garden.
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