(Photo Credit: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

Tomorrow, the wait is over. The Boston Bruins will finally return to the ice at TD Garden, 142 days after their 2025-2026 season ended on home ice in a Game Six loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Here’s who will be taking the ice for the Bruins.

Forwards: Joey Abate, Attilio Biasca, Riley Duran, James Hagens, Ivan Ivan, Mark Kastelic, Marat Khusnutdinov, Sean Kuraly, Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras, Lukas Reichel, Jake Schmaltz, and Alex Steeves. Defense: Jonathan Aspirot, Frederic Brunet, Ty Gallagher, Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, Mason Lohrei, and Charlie McAvoy. Goaltenders: Michael DiPietro & Jiri Patera.

The Capitals also released their lineup, which you can find here. It features a lot of their NHL regulars, including Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson, and Jakob Chychrun. It’ll also be the unofficial Capitals’ debuts for Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner. The Bruins will have their hands full on Sunday afternoon. Here’s three things to watch for.

How will the “Kid Line” look?

The trio of Hagens, Minten, and Khusnutdinov saw some action late in the season for the Bruins after Hagens inked his Entry-Level Contract in April. In a small sample size of just under 24 regular-season minutes together last season, the “Kid Line” had an expected goals percentage of 60% and a Corsi percentage of 48.6%. These three could form a formidable third line, with all three players having the potential to grow into larger roles.

Defensive Battles and a Potential New Top Pairing

Another intriguing storyline to watch tomorrow is on the back end. Frederic Brunet and Charlie McAvoy have been paired up in practice, and Sunday’s game could be the first game action the two see together. McAvoy compared Brunet to Matt Grzelcyk earlier this week, who would need to clear waivers if he does not make the team.

The game will also feature several of the Bruins’ bubble players on defense. Other than Brunet, Jordan Harris, Henri Jokiharju, and Mason Lohrei will all be in the lineup. Lohrei seems more likely to be traded than waived if he does not make the roster, but both Harris and Jokiharju face legitimate battles to make the roster.

How will DiPietro look?

Michael DiPietro enters Training Camp in a different spot than in previous years. With Joonas Korpisalo being dealt to the New York Rangers this summer, the reigning American Hockey League MVP will almost certainly be the Bruins’ backup goaltender this season. Last year, DiPietro played 6:03 in the regular season for the Bruins, stopping two shots including a breakaway, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tomorrow’s preseason opener represents a good opportunity for the Windsor, Ontario, native to get off to a good start ahead of his first full NHL season.

Tomorrow’s game is scheduled for 5:00 PM Eastern. NESN will broadcast the game, with radio coverage on Country 102.5.