Cassidy: Bruins’ “main group” will play two of the three final preseason games

As the calendar flipped to October, preseason is dwindling down and the focus for the Boston Bruins turns to preparation for opening night.

October 16 is still two week away, but there’s a lot to be done.

The Bruins have a crowded roster to trim down until then and changes will be made over the next few days and preseason games to get closer to the final lineup.

The team has made some adjustments recently. They’ve sent Ryan Mast, Noah Dorey, Fabian Lysell and Brett Harrison back to their junior programs., but there haven’t been any major number cuts.

The first two preseason games had some veterans like Jake DeBrusk, Chris Wagner and John Moore sprinkled in, but was primarily a chance to look at the younger guys in the system. Last night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers saw a majority of the veterans get their first exhibition action.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy said it can be expected to see a similar lineup tomorrow against the New York Rangers.

In the win and over the last couple days of training camp, Cassidy and Co. have begun to wrangle together their “main group.” It’s our closest glimpse of an opening night roster and that group will be the focus in two of these three last preseason games. That core group will round out the 2021-22 preseason on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals at the TD Garden.

The traveling roster for Monday to Philadelphia will be composed primarily of the Bruins’ AHL players who are on minor league or two-way contracts. The game will be used to get a better look at them for this upcoming season. Some veterans will be mixed in, but Cassidy noted it will probably be the last time to get a good look at the team’s youth.

Cuts will happen over the next few days and the exact number, whether it’s a half dozen at a time or larger number, will be determined by upper management.