Jake DeBrusk Will Be A Healthy Scratch As B's Look To Avoid A 4th Loss To The Islanders Tonight
The B's will look for revenge tonight, after suffering a blowout 7-2 blowout loss just a couple weeks ago to these New York Islanders, but they'll be doing it without the services of Jake DeBrusk, who will be a healthy scratch. Massive 2 points are on the line tonight for Boston (who put up a dud against NJD on Sunday) as they'll look to avoid their 2nd consecutive loss, and a 4th straight loss to the NYI this season, who are currently top dog in the East (with 3 games in hand).
News, notes and quotes heading into tonight's game…
- Jake DeBrusk will be a healthy scratch tonight. You obviously want all your best players in the lineup when you play a really good team, but man he just hasn't had it lately. Just 1 goal in 17 games this year, his usual spot in the lineup has been taken by Nick Ritchie. He missed a handful of games due to a LBI but just hasn't really looked comfortable at all this year. Yes he's been moved all around the lineup but if you can't get going playing with 37+63 I don't know what to tell you. Certainly the right move, but I believe in JD and his abilities and like Kuraly and Wagner who have been health bombed this year, hopefully watching from above will help. Just seems like patience is running thin with him, in the clip below you'll hear Cassidy talk about all the different avenues in which they have tried to get him going "At the end of the day, we're not quite getting quite out of Jake what we want". Now if you're in the #TradeDeBrusk camp, it's certainly not a great time to advocate for a move (unless it's a pure hockey trade) seeing as his value is incredibly low. But he is probably your best trade chip. I think it's a matter of time until Sweeney decides what to do with him. Like I said, right move, he just hasn't been playing well, he has more to give and hopefully we see it soon. Because either way you'd like him to play well, perform well, and raise his trade value and help the team.
- With Jake DeBrusk getting the scratch, Sean Kuraly makes his way back into the lineup tonight. He was healthy scratched the last 2 games, hopefully he'll have the motor going tonight against a really defensively sound Islanders team. Jack Studnicka will move to the right wing in DeBrusk's place.
- Ondrej Kase has been skating with Kim Brandvold, but has not been on for a practice yet.
- Brandon Carlo will be "out for a while" after Tom Wilson's high hit. Wilson was suspended 7 games. With the trade deadline more than a month away I still feel the best course of action is to acquire a top 4 D. Ekholm? Martinez? There are a handful of d-men available. But at what point does Don Sweeney pull the trigger? It's gonna cost you but this might truly be the B's last real kick at the can to win a Cup this year. Tick tock.
- Love to see Grzelcyk and McAvoy together on the top pairing. But then you have Zboril - Clifton, and Tinordi - Vaakananinen. Gonna need all the lines/pairings rolling tonight against a very good team.
- Tuukka Rask was a little banged up in Sunday's loss to New Jersey, not believed to be serious, but Vladar will be the back up tonight. Jaro Halak gets the start. He'll be looking for redemption after being in net for that blowout 7-2 loss.
LINES:
Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Ritchie - Krejci - Studnicka
Frederic - Coyle - Smith
Bjork - Kuraly - Wagner
Grzelcyk - McAvoy
Zboril - Clifton
Tinordi - Vaakanainen
Halak, Vladar
Important to get back on the right foot and avoid the two game skid. The Islanders forecheck is second to none, but the B's have seen the tape and they'll be ready to go after an absolute dud on Sunday against NJD. B's are in Long Island tonight then back to Boston for a 2 game date with the Rangers. Time to string some wins together. LFG.