The curtain closes on the Boston Bruins' regular season tonight at TD Garden, but they'll face the New Jersey Devils without a key piece of their forward group. Head Coach Marco Sturm confirmed several game-time decisions this morning, aiming to ice a playoff-ready lineup for the finale.
Based on pre-game warmups, center Casey Mittelstadt will be a spectator. The team has not disclosed if his absence is due to injury, leaving his status a question mark as the postseason looms.
This lineup shuffle creates a significant opportunity for two players. Mikey Eyssimont gets a crucial audition in the top six, slotting in alongside Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson in Mittelstadt's place. Meanwhile, rookie James Hagens is poised for his home debut, skating on a line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov—a potential preview of a playoff combination.
On the back end, stability reigns. The Bruins will roll with their six regular defensemen, and Jeremy Swayman gets the nod in the crease for the final tune-up. Puck drop is set for just after 7 PM on NESN, as the Bruins look to build momentum before the real season begins.
