Joonas Korpisalo gets the call for Marco Sturm tonight, while Mason Lohrei stays out again as Boston leans on a thinner lineup.

That decision says plenty about where the Bruins are heading into this matchup with Dallas.

Korpisalo is getting the crease, and Lohrei's lower-body issue still hasn't cleared enough for him to dress.

The goalie call matters on its own. But the bigger story is what Boston still doesn't have on the blue line.

Lohrei being listed day to day keeps one of the Bruins' best puck-moving defenders out of the mix again. That changes breakouts, second-wave support, and how cleanly Boston can move the puck under pressure.

Against the Stars, that's not a small detail. Dallas can force defenders into rushed exits and bad touches, especially when the first pass isn't there.

The update itself is direct and leaves little room for late suspense. Korpisalo starts. Lohrei remains out. Boston has to adjust around both.

The note reads like a clean lineup call, but the real issue is what Boston loses once Lohrei comes off that back end.

Boston needs Korpisalo to settle the night early

Korpisalo now carries more than just the usual starter's load. When a mobile defenseman like Lohrei is unavailable, the goalie often has to calm plays before they turn into extended zone time.

That puts extra focus on puck tracking, rebound control, and how fast Boston can reset after Dallas gets bodies around the crease. A busy first period would not be a surprise.

Lohrei's absence also puts more strain on the rest of the pairings. Someone has to absorb those minutes, someone has to help the transition game, and someone has to replace the offensive push he can create from the blue line.

That's where this lineup note becomes more than a routine pregame update. Boston is not just swapping a goalie into the net. The Bruins are also trying to get through a tough matchup without a defenseman who helps connect the whole ice.

For Korpisalo, the job is simple to describe and harder to pull off. He has to give Boston a calm game, keep the bench settled, and make sure the Stars don't turn Lohrei's absence into a long night.

And for the Bruins, that's the test. Can they protect their own end well enough to let Korpisalo manage the game, or does Lohrei's missing puck-moving detail show up shift after shift?