Need to Know: Bruins at Lightning

TAMPA- The Bruins will be minus two significant parts of their lineup on Friday night as both David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm sit out Boston's matchup against the Lightning at Amalie Arena with injuries. Coach Bruce Cassidy said that it appears Lindholm is on a path to return to the lineup sooner than Pastrnak.
"Hopefully [Lindholm] gets on the ice [Saturday]," said Cassidy. "Pasta didn't skate. I would say Lindholm is a little ahead of Pasta in terms of who will play next. But, certainly, neither tonight."
Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

McLaughlin Slides Up

With Pastrnak sidelined, Marc McLaughlin will take his spot as the second-line right wing alongside Taylor Hall and Erik Haula. Despite McLaughlin sliding into a more significant role than he's had with the Bruins thus far, Hall said that the Billerica native should not be thinking about altering his game.
"I think he plays with a lot of pace, he's got a really good shot," said Hall. "For him, it's just about getting open and we'll read off him. That's the way it goes when guys are missing out of the lineup. You've got to figure out ways to play with different players.
"It's not always going to be perfect. If Erik and I can help him out tonight in any way possible, then hopefully we can play in their end as much as we can, and we'll be fine."

Ullmark Gets the Call

Linus Ullmark will make the start between the pipes on Friday night. The netminder has won five straight starts, while compiling a .931 save percentage and 1.69 goals against average over his last six games - he relieved Jeremy Swayman on March 29 vs. Toronto and made seven saves on seven shots.
"Some of the havoc that seemed to be happening at the beginning of the year has settled down. Just more under control in every area," said Cassidy, while adding that the competition for the No. 1 spot in the postseason remains open.
"They've both played well for the most part. Linus probably has been a little more consistent than Jeremy of late…[Swayman's] been pretty steady, little bit of a blip here, we're gonna let him play through it. Hopefully he finds it again and we go right down to the wire with good choices in that regard.
"Thinking ahead to the playoffs, who would be the guy, we're undecided right now. Could be both. Not sure yet."

Opposing View

The Lightning have dropped three straight games, including a 4-3 loss to Washington on Wednesday night. Tampa, which remains without blue liner Ryan McDonagh, is tied with the Bruins with 93 points through 70 games, though Boston holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. As such, the winner of Friday night's showdown, will take sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, though Cassidy said the Bruins' focus is not necessarily on postseason positioning given how deep the Eastern Conference will be in the playoffs.
"It's a matter of fine-tuning your game. It doesn't matter to us [who we match up against], we're gonna play a good team," said Cassidy. "At the end of the day, I think all four teams know they're gonna have a tough opponent on each side. There's really no team to me that you could say, 'Well, this one might be a little easier than the next.' It's kind of pick your poison.
"We're all about getting our game together and then it's, 'Is it Tampa or Toronto?' That's how it's shaping us for us to stay ahead of and if we can climb up a bit."

Wait, There's More

• After missing Tuesday's loss in Detroit with an upper-body injury, Trent Frederic will return to the lineup in his usual third-line, left-wing position alongside Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith.
• And with Lindholm out, Mike Reilly will slide back up to pair with Charlie McAvoy. Connor Clifton, meanwhile, will be back in after sitting out the last four games as a healthy scratch.

Friday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall - Erik Haula - Marc McLaughlin
Trent Frederic - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar

DEFENSEMEN
Mike Reilly - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton

GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman