Need to Know: Bruins at Devils

NEW JERSEY –– The Boston Bruins proceed their highway journey on Monday in New Jersey with a matchup in opposition to the Devils.

The 7 pm puck drop at Prudential Center marks the second of 3 times the groups will meet this common season. The Bruins beat the Devils 4-1 on Dec. 6 at TD Garden.

“It is always a tricky situation when a team like this, they’re not really happy, but they’re 5-2-0 in their last seven games, I think, so they have a lot of weapons, and they can score,” head coach Marco Sturm mentioned of the Devils. “We just have to make sure we do our job. We’ve got to keep them off the scoresheet.”

The B’s are coming off a 3-2 shootout win in opposition to the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Monday’s sport is the primary of a back-to-back; Boston faces the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

Sturm made some tweaks to the ahead group. Marat Khusnutdinov is transferring up to the primary line alongside Fraser Minten and David Pastrnak, whereas Morgan Geekie is on the third line with Elias Lindholm and Alex Steeves, who’s slotting in for Mikey Eyssimont. Tanner Jeannot is again on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic.

“The kids line, we call it,” Sturm mentioned of the Khusnutdinov, Minten and Pastrnak mixture. “I wasn’t sure about last game. They did a good job – overall, the lines – they did a good job. But I don’t know, I felt like there was something missing, I felt like, as a group. That’s why I went back to the kids line.”

Minten was the first-line pivot in opposition to the Capitals, too, and is dealing with the heightened duty nicely. The 21-year-old rookie has 30 factors (15 targets, 15 assists) via 66 video games.

“It’s the confidence, for sure,” Sturm mentioned of Minten. “When you have that, I think it automatically gives you more boost. It could be his skating, could be just his calmness on the ice, playing a two-way game. I think he’s just still growing, he’s still becoming a man.”

Henri Jokiharju can also be getting into the lineup for the primary time since Feb. 28. The 26-year-old defenseman is predicted to be on the third pair with Nikita Zadorov.

“I just want him to go out and play good defensively. Play fast and close a little bit quicker,” Sturm mentioned. “I think that’s really the message with him. Guys are pushing here, not just the forwards but also on D.”