Need to Know: Bruins vs. Ducks

BOSTON – After a perfect week-long road trip, the Bruins return home for their second meeting with the Anaheim Ducks in the last five days. With a win, Boston would improve to 7-0-0 on the season, which would mark the best start in franchise history.

“It’s a hard game…just because you have the success [on the road], you come home, you kind of take a deep breath at home with your family or whatever you're doing [on the off day on Wednesday] and then this morning the grind starts again. We rev the engine back up,” said coach Jim Montgomery, who confirmed Linus Ullmark as his starting goaltender against the Ducks.

Montgomery said that despite their 3-1 win in Anaheim on Sunday, the Bruins were caught a bit off guard by the Ducks’ intensity. Anaheim is coming off a 3-2 overtime win in Columbus on Tuesday.

“They've been the better team in the majority of the games,” Montgomery said of the Ducks, who are 2-4-0 on the season. “The record doesn't indicate how well they're playing and we need to be ready. I thought we got surprised by their intensity and physicality in the first period the last time we played them, and I hope that doesn't occur again tonight and I hope we start on time.”

Bruins captain Brad Marchand concurred with his coach, noting how noticeable the uptick was in the Ducks’ physicality.

“They competed very hard, they were much more physical than they’ve been in the past,” said Marchand. “They were being very responsible defensively. They were competing on the right side of the puck much harder than they had the past couple years. Definitely gonna be a tight game…we need to bring our best.”

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

Lucic, Lauko Sidelined

The Bruins’ fourth line will have a different look as both Milan Lucic and Jakub Lauko are out due to injuries suffered on the road trip. Lucic has missed the last two games after taking a slapshot off the right foot last Saturday night in Los Angles and is going to be sidelined for at least the next couple of weeks.

Lauko, meanwhile, is out for at least a week after being cut by a skate by his left eye that also left him with a facial fracture.

“He's going to be out at least a week until the swelling goes down and will be re-evaluated in a week,” said Montgomery.

With both Lucic and Lauko out of the lineup, the Bruins recalled Jesper Boqvist from Providence.

Montgomery said there was “no news” regarding Danton Heinen, who was in training camp on a professional tryout agreement and remains with the team. Heinen took morning rushes on the left side with Johnny Beecher and Patrick Brown during Thursday’s pregame skate.

Support for Maine

Montgomery, a University of Maine alum, began his daily press conference by offering his condolences to the Lewiston community on the tragic mass shooting that occurred there on Wednesday night.

“I want to start out by recognizing the horrific and tragic event that happened in Lewiston, Maine,” said Montgomery. “The Boston Bruins offer our sympathy and condolences to the victims and families that suffered. I personally spent four wonderful years at the University of Maine and I know how great the culture is in that state and I know how great the people are and my heartfelt sympathies to everybody that's impacted.”

Wait, There’s More

• Montgomery on the B’s power-play struggles: “Puck movement and creating slot shots, we're just not moving the puck efficiently and quickly enough to be able to beat the sticks on the PK.”
• James van Riemsdyk on playing with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic: “I think we’ve been able to read off each other pretty well. I think all of us play a pretty direct game. I think the strength of the three of us is when we get in the offensive zone and support each other well and filling in the right spots and just getting the puck to the net and ultimately making plays off of that. I think that’s when we’ve been at our best, doing that…it’s been fun to play with those guys.”
• Marchand on his voiceover acting on the latest episode of “Big City Greens” on Disney Channel over the weekend. “I actually haven’t seen it yet, but it was fun to do. One of those things that doesn’t come around often. Definitely enjoyed that process…especially having kids, you get to enjoy a little bit more. You always see the movies but never understand how they’re made behind the scenes. It was a cool little thing to do.”

Thursday’s Projected Lineup

FORWARDS

Brad Marchand – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak

James van Riemsdyk – Charlie Coyle – Trent Frederic

Jake DeBrusk – Matt Poitras – Morgan Geekie

TBD – Johnny Beecher – Patrick Brown

DEFENSEMEN

Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort – Kevin Shattenkirk

GOALIES

Linus Ullmark

Jeremy Swayman