Bruins lines vs. Islanders: Kase makes his return

The Boston Bruins face the New York Islanders tonight at the TD Garden, and we’ll see Ondrej Kase return to the lineup for his first start since the second game of the season.

It’s been an almost four-month recovery for Kase. The winger is finally back in his first game since January 16, after getting an upper-body injury from a high hit during play against the New Jersey Devils.

The Bruins had said in the past that whatever they got out of him this season would be “gravy” for them, as they weren’t sure when he would ready.

They’ll get at least tonight, and possibly tomorrow, with him back on the ice before playoffs hit.

Kase will draw in on the fourth line’s right wing.

The bottom-six forwards will be shaken up for the game, adjusting for his return and Chris Wagner re-entering the lineup. Jake DeBrusk will slide down to the left wing with Curtis Lazar and Kase. Chris Wagner will round out the third line.

Tuukka Rask will start in net, with Jeremy Swayman serving as back-up. Swayman will likely get the start tomorrow.

Here’s how lines and defensive pairings are projected to look:

Lines:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Taylor Hall - David Krejci - Craig Smith

Nick Ritchie - Sean Kuraly - Wagner

DeBrusk - Lazar - Kase

Defensive pairings:

Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy

Mike Reilly - Brandon Carlo

Jeremy Lauzon - Connor Clifton

Rask gets the start.