BOSTON – The Bruins (10-2-0) will be back on home ice Monday night as they aim to bounce back from their second loss of the season with a matchup against the St. Louis Blues (3-6-0) at TD Garden. Boston’s seven-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“You don’t want to lose two in a row,” said Brad Marchand. “That’s something we’ve always tried to preach in here is not compounding losses. But they’re a great team. They’ve lost a few and they know how to bounce back. They have a lot of great characters in that room. It’s gonna be like the last game – everyone is gonna be ready for us with our record and the team that we have, especially when you come up against a team that hasn’t had the start that they expected.
“You’re gonna get their best and that’s what we expect. We have to make sure we bring our A-game tonight and we can’t play sloppy like we did the last game and just get back to playing the way we can. should be a good game.”
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron added that the team must move forward and focus on the task at hand, while admitting that the Mitchell Miller situation did create a distraction around the team over the weekend.
“Yes, obviously we were we had to deal with it,” said Bergeron. “And in a way, it was [a distraction] for a few days. But now I think we can refocus to the important matters of playing the game.
“And I think it was important to take the time…I’m not downplaying anything, but at the same time, I feel like we can turn the page and kind of move on.”
Other pregame notes from coach Jim Montgomery:
- Montgomery said that Craig Smith will return to the lineup after missing the last three games with an upper-body injury. The winger will play the right side on the fourth line along with Trent Frederic and Tomas Nosek. AJ Greer will be a healthy scratch, while Jakub Lauko was assigned to Providence on Monday afternoon.
- Nick Folignomeanwhile, will bump up to play the left wing alongside Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha. “He’s played really well,” Montgomery said of Foligno. “This is just a situational thing, considering who we’re playing and how I think their lines will roll out. It’s not he’s moving up from the third line to the fourth line – I view our third and fourth line both extremely valuable. I just like the matchup I want to use it.”
- Linus Ullmark will get the start in goal, once again, with Montgomery adding that he is eyeing giving Keith Kinkaid a start “against a Western Conference foe,” likely the Canucks this Sunday on the second end of the B’s back-to-back. “I thought [Ullmark] was really good in Toronto,” Montgomery said when asked if Ullmark’s energy level was still high. “I thought he managed the puck and the rebounds well. Gave us an opportunity to come back in the third period and have opportunities to tie it up. He’s doing his job. He seems to be really confident in the top of his crease.”
- Montgomery said there won’t be any added motivation on Monday night, despite spending the last two years as an assistant coach in St. Louis under Craig Berube. “I don’t think it’s personal motivation,” he said. “It’s a little bit of excited to see those guys. For my own self, they had a big part in myself developing as a professional. I have a lot of gratitude toward the St. Louis Blues and everybody in that locker room and the coaches and the management.”
- Montgomery also offered his condolences to the family of former Bruins forward Peter McNab, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 70. “He was a great Bruin,” said Montgomery.” I remember him in the ’70s as a fan. I know he was part of the Bruins teams from the mid ’70s to the late ’70s that were really good. And I got to know him as a person at the University of Denver and spent a lot of time with him.
Video: Montgomery addresses the media before BOS vs. ST
Bruins president Cam Neely, captain Patrice Bergeron, and alternate captain Brad Marchand addressed the Mitchell Miller situation following Monday’s morning skate. Their media availabilities are below:
Video: Neely meets with the media on Monday morning at WIA
Video: Bergeron meets with the media on Monday at WIA
Video: Marchand meets with the media on Monday at WIA
Monday’s Projected Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall – David Krejci – David Pastrnak
Nick Foligno – Charlie Coyle – Pavel Zacha
Trent Frederic – Tomas Nosek – Craig Smith
DEFENSEMEN
Hampus Lindholm – Connor Clifton
Matt Grzelcyk – Brandon Carlo
Jakub Zboril – Mike Rilly
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Keith Kinkaid
.