The Black-and-Gold return to action Wednesday night against
the Buffalo Sabres. It will be the B’s first game back following the horrific
Marathon bombing Monday afternoon. Their tilt against Ottawa was postponed and
rescheduled in wake of the tragic events. Following practice Tuesday morning,
the Bruins pledged to “play their hearts out” for a city in need of emotional
relief.
Boston (26-11-4) will play host to Buffalo (18-19-6) in what
will be the fifth and final meeting between the two clubs this year. The Bruins
will be looking to win the season series. Each team has won two games a piece.
The B’s hope to snap a two game skid and will be getting
some help in doing so. Patrice Bergeron, Boston’s heart and soul, is set for a
return to action. Bergeron had sat out the prior six games with a mild
concussion. His presence in the lineup will certainly help to solidify a group
that has shown its fair share of inconsistencies in his absence. Brad Marchand
will make his return as well. It is clear what his talents bring and mean to
the team.
Buffalo comes into Boston having won three of their last
five contests. A strong showing thus far in the month of April has the Sabres
sitting only four points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the
Eastern Conference. Clinging to postseason hopes, the Sabres face a must win situation
in this one.
Expect veteran leaders Thomas Vanek, Steve Ott, and Ryan
Miller to have their guys ready go. The Sabres will be skating with great
desperation and intensity. Buffalo has a “nothing to lose” attitude and is
fully aware the fate of their season hinges on every play.
As for the Bruins, finding their stride with the playoffs
rapidly approaching, is at the forefront of the to do list. Jaromir Jagr,
Gregory Campell, and Tyler Seguin have been three of Boston’s hottest players.
Each has stepped up their production in significant fashion with Bergeron and
Marchand being out. Anton Khudobin is likely to the get the start in goal for
the B’s. Anton is 2-1 against the Sabres this season. His last time out,
Khudobin blanked Buffalo 2-0 at the First Niagara Center.
Emerging as victors at TD Garden would be an immense lift
for the thousands affected by the recent despicable acts. The city of Boston is
more than deserving of another Stanley Cup. In speaking to the media following
today’s morning skate, Claude Julien said, “it’s all the same goal, to win the
Stanley Cup.” The Bruins are getting healthy at the right time and the addition
of Carl Soderberg makes the B’s a very deep, multi-faceted, dangerously
versatile group.
All great runs begin somewhere and what better night to get
it all started than tonight against a hated divisional rival. Boston will
clinch their highly elusive postseason birth with a win. Soderberg did practice
with the team Wednesday. He will wear #34 and it’s not yet clear if the Swedish
newcomer will start. Andrew Ference will get a scheduled night of rest and Wade
Redden will make his Bruins debut.
According to today’s morning skate, the Boston lineup projects
as follows:
Campell-Krejci-Jagr
Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin
Paille-Kelly-Horton
Lucic-Peverley-Thornton
Chara-Boychuk
Seidenberg-Hamilton
McQuaid-Redden
Khudobin/Rask