Need to Know: Bruins at Capitals

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Bruins' new head coach, Jim Montgomery, will be making his debut behind the bench as Boston kicks off its 99th season on Wednesday night with a visit to the nation's capital for a matchup against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena.
"It's two-fold. Let's be process-oriented and very detailed, focus on the process…I think it helps with nerves and anxiety," Montgomery said when asked what his message will be to the club. "The second thing is I want this group to show what we do have not what we don't have to start the season."

Montgomery added that he does not expect the players to have fully grasped all the ins and outs of his tweaks to the Bruins' system, acknowledging that the process will take longer than a few weeks of training camp. For now, he said, the players should play on instinct.
"Not a chance [they have it grasped fully yet]," said Montgomery. "And you know what? It doesn't matter. You want guys to play with creativity. You want them to play on their toes and not afraid of making mistakes.
"Especially me, if I'm correcting too much right now - we'll get it, we'll get there on the X's and O's. Right now, it's about playing with effort and emotion more than it is about execution these first couple weeks."
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said that outside of the neutral zone, there are "very subtle changes" to Boston's systems under Montgomery compared to previous head coaches Claude Julien and Bruce Cassidy.
"He wants to play with a lot of pace," said Bergeron. "I don't think that's really different than any other team really. That being said, it's a very aggressive system. Maybe a little more than the last two that I'm used to."

Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. ET puck drop on TNT and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

A Debut's on Deck

Jakub Lauko admitted he was at "hockey rock-bottom" last season.
Between injuries and poor play, the Czech winger was in big-time need of a reset. Fortunately for the 22-year-old, he found it over the summer - and now he's set for his NHL debut on Wednesday night in Washington.
"It was kind of a strange feeling. It was hard last season," said Lauko, who notched a career-low three goals in a career-high 54 games for Providence, his third professional campaign in North America, last season. "There were moments during that season that I felt like it's not gonna work out well for me here.
"But just feeling that I'm in this locker room for the first game of the season, it feels really good. I'm just happy I stayed and I kept working…I just stopped worrying about it and hit the reset button. I had to find the joy in playing hockey again. Just joy to go to practice and the training.
"I think over this summer, I found it. I feel really good. Much, much better than last year."
Bergeron, who is entering his 19th season with in the NHL, said he told Lauko to appreciate every moment.
"I was talking to Lauko that I think it remains the same game that he's worked so hard to get to. That's the message all the time," said Bergeron. "It's still the same size rink, the lines are the same color, nothing changes. Go out there and do what he's been doing. There's a reason why he's here.
"It goes by fast, I told him that too. It does go fast…you want the guys to enjoy it and soak it in. Those are important moments in a player's career."
So far, Lauko appears to be embracing that advice.
"It feels great. I'm really excited," he said. "I'm not nervous. I just feel the excitement, just really feel privileged to be here."

Signing On

After spending the majority of training camp on a Professional Tryout Agreement, defenseman Anton Stralman inked a one-year, $1 million contract with the Bruins on Wednesday morning. The 36-year-old will not be in the lineup against Washington, however, as the club works to resolve a Visa issue.
"I just learned a new, big word - expeditiously we're trying to get things done quicker on his Visa. He's not eligible until we get that and I don't have a timeline for you," said Montgomery.
Montgomery added that he was impressed with Stralman's veteran approach during camp.
"The way he thinks the game, quickly makes decisions to get pucks out of our end," said Montgomery. "And the poise he has at the offensive blue line…I think he's smart with how physical he is. It's his game management which is what we really value."
Bergeron has battled against Stralman for years - particularly during the blue liner's five-year stint with Tampa Bay - and like his coach complimented the Sweden native's thoughtful style.
"I think it's his calmness," Bergeron said of what stands out about Stralman's game. "He's a steady defenseman that plays the right way but always seemed to be in the right spot, tough to play against, the experience as well. He's been around for a while. All that put together, we're happy to have him."

Opposing View

Like the Bruins, the Capitals are starting the season without some of their top players as Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, and Carl Hagelin all remain sidelined by injuries. Forwards Connor Brown and Dylan Strome and defenseman Erik Gustafsson are among the newcomers for the Capitals, though Washington's biggest addition comes in goal where Darcy Kuemper - who led Colorado to the Stanley Cup last spring - takes over between the pipes.

Wait, There's More

• Montgomery did not officially name Linus Ullmark as the starter, though the netminder was the first one off the ice at Wednesday's morning skate. "Looks that way," Montgomery said when asked if the veteran would get the call. "We've got these first four games, we're going to alternate our tandem. I let goalie [coach] Bob [Essensa] handle that and see if 35's in the net tonight to start the game or not."
• A.J. Greer will make his Bruins debut as the third-line left wing alongside Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith. "Those are good conversations to have when you're delivering good news," Montgomery said of informing Greer that he'd made the team. "They're excited, they can't wait to get going…Lauko playing his first NHL game. It's show everybody why you're here."
• Bergeron on kicking off his 19th season with the Bruins on Wednesday night: "You get the butterflies, you get excited to get going again," he said. "I think it's good to have every time you're about to start a new season."
• Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka will be the scratches up front.

Wednesday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha - David Krejci - David Pastrnak
A.J. Greer - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - Jakub Lauko
DEFENSEMEN
Hampus Lindholm - Brandon Carlo
Mike Reilly - Connor Clifton
Derek Forbort - Jakub Zboril
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman