The Bruins’ will have the new faces that were called up from Providence on Wednesday in the lineup when they face the Hurricanes in Carolina on Thursday.
Riley Tufte, Patrick Brown, Vinni Lettieri and Ian Mitchell are all expected to play against the Canes, who have some question marks of their own headed into Friday’s 3 pm trade deadline. Mikko Rantanen, a UFA-to-be who was traded from Colorado in a blockbuster last month, has reportedly told the team he will not sign with the team before the deadline. While many have speculated that he could be on the move again because of that, Rantanen took part in the Canes’ morning skate.
B’s interim coach Joe Sacco, meanwhile, was hoping that the infusion of the AHL vets injected into the lineup will bring some energy.
“Any time you have players coming up from Providence, and they’ve played well down there and deserve a chance, hopefully it provides a spark,” Sacco told reporters in Raleigh.
Not expected to be in the lineup is Justin Brazeau. As a UFA-to-be, his name as naturally come up in trade talk. He could be sitting for trade protection, or it could be just a normal healthy scratch. Brazeau has not registered a point since January 18.
A couple veterans with term on their deals whose names have been bandied about in trade speculation, Charlie Coyle and Brandon Carlo, were both expected to be in the lineup.
Sacco is hoping to get just the B’s second win in nine games to keep their flagging playoff hopes alive on what is the most unsettling night on the calendar for hockey players.
“This happens every year and it’s part of the job description for everybody involved,” said Sacco. “Once you get past it, it will solidify pretty much who’s here and who’s not. That’s the way we look at it. From my standpoint, it doesn’t really change anything.”…
The B’s lost another defenseman, Jordan Oesterle, who was claimed by the Nashville Predators on waivers on Thursday. Oesterle, signed by the B’s as a free agent, has another year left on his deal at the minimum of $775,000….
The B’s signed veteran forward Tyler Pitlick to a one-year, two-way contract worth an NHL cap hit of $775,000. The 33-year-old Pitlick has played 43 games for Providence this year with 16-17-33 totals.