Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm and his family faced some life-changing news, and that's why he was absent from practice this morning.

Hampus Lindholm is not on the ice for Bruins morning skate.

After practice, it was revealed that Lindholm and his fiancee, Amanda, welcomed in their daughter this morning, explaining why he was absent.

Sturm stated that Lindholm is expected to play tonight for the Bruins in their game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Hampus Lindholm is expected to play tonight, Marco Sturm said. Lindholm and his fiancée Amanda welcomed their daughter this morning, he said.

Changes if Lindholm does not play

If Lindholm is not in the lineup tonight, this is how the lines are going to look:

Tonight's lineup:

Khusnutdinov-Lindholm-Pastrnak
Mittelstadt-Zacha-Arvidsson
Jeannot-Minten-Geekie
Eyssimont-Kuraly-Kastelic

Zadorov-McAvoy
Lindholm-Peeke
Aspirot-Jokiharju

Korpisalo

But, if Lindholm does not play tonight, then Mason Lohrei will return back to the lineup after being a healthy scratch last game.

If Lindholm is in tonight, Sturm expects the same lineup as Tuesday's game against the Islanders.

Aspirot in, Lohrei out.

It seems like it's going to be a game-time decision to see what the defensive pairings look like tonight for the Bruins game.

Losing Lindholm tonight would be a big loss for the Bruins, but it would be for a great reason.

Everyone here at Bruins Insider is sending their condolences to the Lindholm family.