Bruins Set for Regular-Season Finale in Montreal

BOSTON - The Bruins' record-setting regular season is nearly at its end.
Boston is headed north for a visit with the rival Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Bell Centre in the finale of what has been a historic 2022-23 campaign. And while there are no more records left to be broken, the Bruins are expected to ice their regular lineup with a few exceptions.
Coach Jim Montgomery said following Wednesday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena that Linus Ullmark, who left Tuesday's game in the third period with muscle tightness, was doing better but would not travel to Montreal.

"Linus is good today," said Montgomery. "But we are going to be precautionary with him and he's not going to come on the trip."
Montgomery added that goalie coach Bob Essensa was leaning toward Jeremy Swayman getting the start between the pipes against the Habs, though the Bruins did recall netminder Brandon Bussi - who served as the Boston backup on Sunday in Philadelphia - on an emergency basis on Wednesday morning.
"Undecided," said Montgomery. "But we're going to talk on the plane as a staff. Both that, lines, and defense pairings for our final game."
David Krejci, meanwhile, will miss his seventh straight game, though Montgomery said the veteran centerman will be ready for Game 1 of the first round next week.
"He's a playoff-only guy," Montgomery said with a smile. "That's what he told me."

Boston could also be without Tomas Nosek, who was ill on Wednesday and a question mark to make the trip to Montreal. Both Derek Forbort (lower-body) and Nick Foligno (lower-body) were full participants in Wednesday's skate with Montgomery saying both are "checking boxes" as they progress toward returns to the lineup.
"Nick Foligno is a huge part of our team and a huge part of the bench and leadership," said Montgomery. "I do think that while he was initially away, we missed him. I think others have stepped up.
"But you can't replicate someone who is actually as unselfish as he is and has the ability to lift others up. He notices when a guy is down, he's got a lot of [Patrice] Bergeron in him that way."

Seventh Heaven

Pavel Zacha was in position to succeed from the start.
As soon as he arrived in Boston - where he already lived during the offseason - last summer, the Czechia native felt right at home thanks to the welcoming nature of the Bruins' dressing room. As such, Zacha felt prepared from the jump and has shown as much on the ice with a career year in his first campaign with the Black & Gold.
"I think just having trust in our coaches who have trusted me and play me in those roles that I've always wanted to play in and playing with great teammates," said Zacha. "I think [my teammates] made it easier for me too, telling me where to be and then I could really grow as the season went on."
The 26-year-old's performance - which has included a career-high 21 goals, 36 assists, and 57 points in 81 games - earned him NESN's 7th Player Award, which is chosen annually by Bruins fans and presented to the player who most exceeds their expectations.
"I think it's great," said Zacha. "It's a great accomplishment, it's thanks to everyone on the team for making me feel comfortable straight from the beginning. I just felt really good coming in and straight from the start of the season I was comfortable on the team and playing with players like that, it makes it even easier. So, I'm happy, especially getting a win on the same night as well is huge."
Zacha has proven to be an incredibly versatile and valuable piece of Boston's forward puzzle with Montgomery deploying him in nearly every situation (power play, penalty kill, even strength), position (left wing, center, right wing), and line (first, second, third).
"We talked before the season that that's going to be my role this year and I was happy about it," said Zacha. "I played even before the wing and center. For me, it's just getting more ice time, being able to play in these different roles and just trying to do my best there."

Wait, There's More

• The Bruins have converted on 6 of 13 power-play opportunities in April, a significant improvement after a nearly two-month stretch of struggles from January-March. "I think they are playing confidently," said Montgomery. "The puck is moving quick, bodies are moving, and there is a great convergence at the net. Then you couple that with, I think, our breakouts and entries have been really good here lately and that means you're going to get a lot of zone time if you're doing those two things. We always win faceoffs because we have Bergeron."
• Montgomery has been pleased with Taylor Hall's performance in the two games the winger has played since his return from a lower-body injury, though he expects Hall's game will continue to elevate into the postseason. "He's creating a lot of chances and I think just naturally getting in the rhythm," said Montgomery. "I don't think his finishing touches, him shooting or the finishing passing plays were there that were used to seeing from Taylor Hall and I think that's just a matter of time before it comes."
• Boston's bench boss added that his staff has begun some prep work for the postseason, but that until an opponent is decided, they are a bit stuck. "The real work is about to begin as soon as we really know [the opponent]," said Montgomery. "We're doing some advanced work, but again it could be one of three teams that we play, right? So, unfortunately, we're in a little bit of a conundrum in that way, but we're still enjoying what we have left of the regular season. We're enjoying each other's company, we're enjoying what we're trying to build. There's no emotion right now or thoughts about Game 1. Our minds might drift there every once in a while, and that's fine, but without having an opponent it's hard to kind of dig in."

Wednesday's Practice Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Tyler Bertuzzi - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall - Charlie Coyle - Nick Foligno
Jakub Lauko/A.J. Greer - Trent Frederic - Garnet Hathaway
DEFENSEMEN
Dmitry Orlov - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Clifton
Derek Forbort - Jakub Zboril
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Brandon Bussi