The Boston Bruins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night but Patrice Bergeron will remain out of the B’s lineup. Bergeron has missed the past three games due to an upper-body injury, and he’ll miss a fourth — while Jack Studnicka will get another first-line shot.
“It was a bit of a curveball,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy Thursday morning. “Leading into today, we thought he’d be cleared. But doctors felt otherwise, so we’ll look at Saturday now. It’s business as usual once the puck drops, an opportunity for someone else.”
Cassidy tabs Saturday as a likely return date for Bergeron now. The centerman was “probable” yesterday for today’s game but he’ll get another two days of rest.
Jack Studnicka will remain on the top line for the Bruins with Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand — who recently just launched his own cereal brand. And as for defense pairings, Mike Reilly will be a healthy scratch while Hampus Lindholm will make his Bruins debut.
Jeremy Swayman will be in goal as Boston hosts the Bolts.