Jim McBride's Wednesday practice lines show Michael Eyssimont skating with Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie as the Bruins prep for Montreal.
These are practice lines, not the confirmed lineup for Thursday's game against the Canadiens at TD Garden. Still, the group that has won four straight looks unchanged, and Eyssimont is in it after scoring the winner Sunday in his first game back from the AHL.
McBride laid out four forward lines and three defense pairs, with Sean Kuraly the extra forward and both goalies on the ice.
The Eyssimont move is the one to watch. He arrived from the AHL on the heels of a hat trick, scored the winner right away, and now skates alongside Minten and Geekie instead of fighting for a spot on the fringe.
On the back end, Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy stay together, which fits a team that leaned on its blue line against Florida. Jonathan Aspirot is the extra defenseman, and Belle Fraser has him paired with Connor Clifton in the extra group.
Fraser's version of the lines confirms the same forward groups and adds that detail on the spare pair.
Up front, David Pastrnak leads the team with 24 points, 8 goals and 16 assists, and he keeps John-Jason Peterka and Pavel Zacha beside him. James Hagens, who is listed with a back injury, is not part of the practice lines.
Why Marco Sturm has little reason to tinker
The Bruins are 13-4-1 and first in the Atlantic Division. They are 8-1-0 at home, and Thursday's game is in Boston.
Montreal arrives at 11-3-4 and second in the division, fresh off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild on Tuesday night. Nobody on the Bruins' side should want to change a lineup that is winning.
Leaving Eyssimont in a top-six chair is the right call, and Sturm clearly sees it the same way. Fraser Minten has a +11 rating, so the line already has a good partner for him.
Goaltending is the open question. Jeremy Swayman got the net against the Golden Knights on November 2, but with Swayman and Michael DiPietro both skating Wednesday, no starter is confirmed for Montreal. The official lineup will come closer to puck drop Thursday.
Quick hits
CALGARY FLAMESEric Francis reports Jonathan Huberdeau is on the verge of returning, and the Flames host the Rangers tonight. A crowded left wing is about to get tighter.
MINNESOTA WILDCanadiens coach Martin St-Louis believes Quinn Hughes "sold" the late slashing call on Cole Caufield in Tuesday's overtime win. Expect Montreal to bring that frustration to Boston.
NEW YORK ISLANDERSDavid Pagnotta reports the Islanders are eyeing next Tuesday for Mathew Barzal's season debut. Long wait, big boost.
NASHVILLE PREDATORSJuuse Saros blanked the Kings, one day after Pekka Rinne's Hall of Fame induction in Toronto. A fitting tribute from the man who inherited the net.
ST-LOUIS BLUESJim Montgomery was blunt about Dalibor Dvorsky after the Blues' 3-2 win over Detroit on Tuesday night. A young player just got a message.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
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