Tuukka Rask Returns Versus Flyers

7 p.m. ET
TD Garden – Boston, MA
TV: NESN, NHLN-US
Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub

Season Series/Schedule

Date      Game                                    GWG
12/2       BOS 3 @ PHI 0                   Ryan Spooner
3/8         PHI @ BOS         
4/1         BOS @ PHI         

Team Leaders
Bruins                                                                   Flyers
Brad Marchand, 66          Points                   Claude Giroux, 79
Brad Marchand, 28          Goals                     Sean Couturier, 29
Brad Marchand, 38          Assists                  Jakub Voracek, 57

The Boston Bruins have overcome missing players all season long either because of injury or suspension.

David Backes is the latest player to be out of the lineup as he begins his three-game suspension for his illegal check on Frans Nielsen of the Detroit Red Wings. 

The Bruins did not recall anyone from Providence after the NHL's ruling on Backes came down, so Noel Acciari will draw back in tonight.  He will play on the fourth line with Tommy Wingels moving up to center the third line in Backes's absence. 

Tuukka Rask will return to the net for the Bruins tonight after missing the last three games with a lower-body injury.  He made 28 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the Flyers back in December and will be opposed by rookie Alex Lyon.

The Bruins have had a lot of recent success versus the Flyers.  They have taken points in 12 of the last 13 games against the Flyers; going 10-1-2 in that span.  The success could continue tonight as the Flyers lost their fourth straight game to the Pittsburgh Penguins on home ice last night.  They are now 0-3-1 in March after just one regulation loss in 13 games during February.

Probable Bruins Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Riley Nash - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Rick Nash
Danton Heinen - Tommy Wingels - Brian Gionta
Tim Schaller - Sean Kuraly – Noel Acciari

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Zdeno Chara - Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug - Nick Holden
Matt Grzelcyk - Kevan Miller

GOALTENDER
Tuukka Rask (26-11-4, 2.28 GAA, .919 save %, 2 SO)

INJURY REPORT
LW-Anders Bjork (shoulder) out, C-Patrice Bergeron (foot) out, D-Charlie McAvoy (MCL) out, C-David Backes (suspension) out

Probable Flyers Lineup
FORWARDS
Claude Giroux - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Oskar Lindblom - Nolan Patrick - Jakub Voracek
Jordan Weal - Valtteri Filppula - Wayne Simmonds
Jori Lehtera - Scott Laughton - Michael Raffl

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Ivan Provorov - Shayne Gostisbehere
Robert Hagg - Andrew MacDonald
Brandon Manning - Radko Gudas

GOALTENDER
Alex Lyon (2-1-0, 2.88 GAA, .903 save %, 0 SO)

INJURY REPORT
G-Brian Elliott (core muscle) out, G-Michal Neuvirth (lower-body) out