"We had discussed a while ago how to get all eight guys involved," said Cassidy. "They've been practicing together. I think that helps, keep them as a pair and then we'll sort through as we go how it breaks out after that. Cliffy had a tough night the other night. But they've been good, him and Forbort, for a while - good stretch, solid, consistent, played within themselves hockey. Forby gets an off night to keep the pairs on the right side and get them both in.
"Reilly was fine. He was just the odd man out because I thought Forbort and Clifton being a pair would be easier against those types of teams we'd be facing. He's back in on the left side. Brown, it was always our intention to get him in at some point. Tonight's the night."
Up front, both Nick Foligno (lower-body) and Craig Smith (illness) are considered day-to-day and will not play against the Devils. As such, Anton Blidh will get his first game action since March 16 in Minnesota, playing with Tomas Nosek and Curtis Lazar on the B's fourth line. Marc McLaughlin, who will be making his NHL debut, will take the place of Smith as Boston's third-line right wing alongside Trent Frederic and Charlie Coyle.
"Practice, very professional in his approach, does everything hard," Cassidy said of McLaughlin, who is a natural centerman. "Ready to go when it's his turn, alert, focused. So that part's great. Shoots the puck very hard, passes the puck very hard. He's got hard habits, for lack of a better term, which are gonna be required at this level. Let's see how he mixes in in a professional environment.
"We've asked him to just play his game. He had success in college for a reason. Stick with that and see how he kind of develops chemistry with his linemates and how his own individual game goes."
McLaughlin, a native of Billerica, Massachusetts, and the former captain of Boston College, expects to have roughly 50 family members and friends in the stands for his debut.
"Obviously a lot of different emotions," said McLaughlin, who has been with the team since signing a two-year, entry-level deal on March 15. "Definitely really excited to say the least - you get a chance to play in the NHL but to be wearing the Bruins sweater at the same time is really special…there's a ton of leaders in the locker room. Just trying to absorb as much as I can and learn from them. They're all such great professionals so just trying to absorb it."
Linus Ullmark will make the start between the pipes.
