Bruce Cassidy discusses Game 6 lineup changes

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Dorin Canaday
May 12, 2022 (2:17 PM)

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The Boston Bruins host the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night in what is a must-win situation for the Bs. The club dropped game five 5-1 back in Raleigh to put themselves on the brink of elimination from the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Bruins' head coach Bruce Cassidy spoke to the media after the team's morning skate to discuss the expected lineup changes for the do-or-die game six at TD Garden.

The biggest news is that defenseman Matthew Grzelcyk would be not dressing for game six as Hampus Lindholm is making his return, but Cassidy noted that that's not the only reason:

"Grizz is playing through a little bit of stuff [injuries], we know that. He has been throughout the year. We've given certain nights to sort of recover, and we just feel now is one of those times that we're going to do that again."

NHL players deal with multiple injuries a season. Some they can play through, and some they can't. Clearly, this one hasn't been bad enough for Grzelcyk to play through, but with top two defenseman Lindholm playing his first game since game two, it gives Cassidy that relief to hold him out of the lineup.

Cassidy was asked if he plans on keeping the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak apart for the whole game:

"The game dictates [putting them back together]. I think there are certainly opportunities. [In] game three, they came together, March hadn't scored in a bit, and they found their mojo a little bit, but it also bleeds into the powerplay for them. It really helped with some faceoff plays, and we know what they're capable of, and certainly there will be moments we may have to go to that, but it does take away from the other lines."

It noted the most significant result of reuniting that trio, the success of the powerplay. The Bruins' man advantage has won them a couple of games in this series so far, and they'll most likely need it again tonight. Although, the entire team has been snake bitten at five-on-five in the series as well.

Listen to Bruce Cassidy's full media coverage below:

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