Starting Goalie: Swayman back in net for Bruins

Boston Hockey Now just reported that Jeremy Swayman is back in net for the Bruins tonight against the Panthers, according to the projected lines.

Two skater changes come with the goalie news. These are projected lines, and the full lineup for today's game at TD Garden is not confirmed.

Boston Hockey Now noted that Matthew Poitras draws in on the second line, Marat Khusnutdinov drops to the third line and Swayman gets the crease.

Swayman has 12 games played this season, while Michael DiPietro has 5. Nothing in that split suggests a goalie controversy, and Jeremy Swayman getting the net against the Golden Knights earlier this month fits the same pattern.

Against an Atlantic Division opponent at home, the Bruins are going with their No. 1. Easy call.

Poitras has 4 goals and 3 assists in 12 games, and he returned to practice with a broken nose. He is listed as day-to-day with a nose injury, so his place in the lineup is worth watching right up to puck drop.

James Hagens is on injured reserve for a few weeks, which is the backdrop for the forward shuffling. Khusnutdinov has 3 goals and 3 assists in 17 games and was on the third line with Casey Mittelstadt and Elias Lindholm at Saturday's practice.

What the projected lines mean for Bruins vs. Panthers

Saturday's practice lines are only a reference point. John-Jason Peterka, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak skated together up front, Poitras was with Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie, and Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic formed the fourth group.

Whether that all carries over today is not confirmed. The post only speaks to the second line, the third line and the goalie.

DiPietro stays in the picture as the backup. This morning's Sunday notes dug into Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi's bond, and that side of the crease is worth a look too.

Florida arrives at 9-6-2 after a 4-3 loss in Washington on Saturday. The Panthers' starter has not been given, so the goalie matchup stays open for now.

For Boston, the stakes are simple. The Bruins are 12-4-1 and first in the Atlantic, with a 7-1-0 record at TD Garden and three straight wins.

The official lineup should come once the teams hit the ice, and Poitras' status is the one to check first.

Quick hits

WINNIPEG JETSA post on X this morning says defenseman Elias Salomonsson will be away from the Jets indefinitely for personal reasons. No timeline is given, and that is a hole on the blue line for Winnipeg.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSSpittin' Chiclets reports the Blackhawks held a players-only meeting after last night's 9-2 loss in Carolina. When a team gets hammered like that, the locker room usually has plenty to say.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSMorgan Rielly's status is still unknown as the Maple Leafs host the Devils tonight. Jim Hiller called the injury "a big blow," and he did not sound like a coach who expects good news.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINSSidney Crosby scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Kings on Saturday night, including an empty netter that took real effort. Leave it to Crosby to give one into an empty net everything he has.

MINNESOTA WILDMichael Russo reports John Hynes tore into referee Jean Hebert as the Wild unraveled in a 4-3 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. Coaches get fined for less, so watch for a league response.