:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51260689/usa-today-9589224.0.jpg)
So, media wasn't permitted at Warrior Ice this morning - maybe because they didn't hold a practice or pregame skate today. We'll just have to wait until Claude Julien addresses media just before 4pm today to hear of any line combinations.
No practice, pregame skate or media availability at Warrior Ice Arena this morning in advance of the Bruins' preseason game vs. PHI (5 ET)
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 8, 2016
What we do know is that we'll be getting a good look at the season-opening team in tonight's game. As of last night's roster release from the Bruins, tonight's skaters will be: forwards Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci, Matt Beleskey, David Pastrnak, David Backes, Jimmy Hayes, Ryan Spooner, Dominic Moore, Riley Nash, Austin Czarnik and Danton Heinen; defensemen Zdeno Chara, Torey Krug, Kevan Miller, Christian Ehrhoff, Rob O'Gara, and Brandon Carlo; and goalies Tuukka Rask and Malcolm Subban.
Per another Bruins tweet, here were yesterday's line rushes - and, with the exception of Acciari and the final defensive pair, all our rostered's are in there:
Practice Lines:
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 7, 2016
Marchand—Bergeron—Pastrnak
Spooner—Krejci—Backes
Beleskey—Czarnik—Hayes
Nash/Acciari—Moore—Heinen
Practice Defense Pairs:
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 7, 2016
Chara—Carlo
Krug—O’Gara
Ehrhoff—K. Miller
Liles—C. Miller
For starters (pun intended), Tuukka will get all the minutes tonight, barring rust or shenanigoals from the Flyers. I'm sure Subban is itching to repeat his heroics from last weekend's game against Philly. (At least, what sounded like heroics, because Radio.)
Where the real interest lies tonight is what impression Heinen, Czarnik, Carlo and O'Gara will make. Has Ehrhoff provided enough pressure on these young defensemen to up their game? Will they leapfrog Joe Morrow or Colin Miller on the depth chart? Will the strong play of Heinen and Czarnik this month necessitate a youth movement up front?
Bold Prediction: Heinen makes the big club next week; Czarnik and the rest do not (logjam at center and too many 1-way defensemen already). He sounds ready - the mental game is strong with this one. "You've just got to go out there and kind of do what got you there," said Heinen [yesterday, per Bruins media]. "If you put too much pressure on yourself, then it's going to be negative, so I think I'm not going to try to put too much pressure and just go play my game. If you put some good pressure on yourself, it brings the best out of you."
Strong words, kid. Let's get this preseason tidied up so we can get to the real deal.