Need to Know: Bruins vs. Flyers

BOSTON - After getting banged up in back-to-back games, Matt Grzelcyk will be out of the lineup on Saturday night when the Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers for the back end of a two-game set at TD Garden.
Grzelcyk appeared to wrench his left arm after tangling awkwardly with the Islanders forward Jordan Eberle during the third period on Monday on Long Island, forcing him to leave the game. The blue liner was well enough to play on Thursday during the Bruins' home opener but was left hobbled once more when he slammed into the boards as he went to retrieve a puck behind Boston's net in the second period.
Grzelcyk limped his way to the bench without putting any pressure on his left leg but remained in the game. The Charlestown native was dealing with some discomfort, however, and was held out of overtime. He did not practice on Friday or take part in Saturday's morning skate.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy termed Grzelcyk as day-to-day.
With Grzelcyk sidelined, Connor Clifton will sub in and make his season debut, playing alongside Brandon Carlo. Clifton has played just one regular-season NHL game in the last 13 months, as he returned from an upper-body injury for Boston's final contest before the COVID-19 shutdown last March 10 in Philadelphia.

The 25-year-old did play eight games during last summer's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"He'll play his off-side," Cassidy said, while mentioning that Urho Vaakanainen was also a possibility to enter into the lineup. "We've been working with him [on that]…he's been practicing with us. Certainly confident in either guy, but that's the direction we're gonna go tonight. We'll see how [Clifton] does on his off-side and re-evaluate for our next game on Tuesday and see where we are health-wise."
Veteran blue liner John Moore would have been a candidate to step in but has been dealing with a lower-body injury that he suffered during training camp. He is also considered day-to-day.
Charlie McAvoy, meanwhile, will sub in for Grzelcyk on the first power-play unit. He'll likely play the elbow with David Krejci at the point.
"I'm sure he's excited to get his opportunity, so we'll see how that goes," said Cassidy.

Trading Places

With injuries and a lack of offense throwing a wrench in to Cassidy's plans for his forward group, it's been a challenge through four games to find the best combinations.
Boston's bench boss is making another adjustment for Saturday's tilt with the Flyers, flipping Anders Bjork and Trent Frederic on the left side. Frederic will be bumped up to the third line alongside Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith, while Bjork will shift down to play with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner on the fourth line.
"We've always had a good fourth line so maybe that's the best fit for [Bjork]," said Cassidy. "The offense comes then great, he moves up….Freddy, on the other hand, has done a good job on that fourth line so you've got to be careful…the message to him was don't change what you were doing, be hard on the pucks, be in people's faces, get to the front of the net. Again, we're gonna work with Freddy.
"Him and Studs are new to the league, a lot of learning curves. The difference with Anders is he's not new to the league, he's been around, so a little falls on the player to carve out his identity. The players that do tend to find themselves in a spot, so it's a shared responsibility between us and the player and that was the end of the conversation."
Bjork, known for his offensive skill and speed, played just 10:45 during Thursday's victory over Philadelphia and has landed only one shot on goal without registering a point so far this season. Naturally, Cassidy would like to see more out of the 24-year-old winger.
"Well, we've talked about this. If you're going to be an offensive player then your gonna need to generate offense, simple as that," said Cassidy. "To generate offense, you've got to get inside, you've got to beat some people one-on-one, you've got to win your puck battles, make plays, all those things. And it's been hit or miss a little bit, so we've talked about it even going into the year if we were fully healthy that maybe he'd be a fit where [Joakim] Nordstrom was [on the fourth line].
"Unfortunately, we're not fully healthy. He got moved around and, right or wrong…he's got to find his identity, find where he can best help the team and play to his strengths as much as possible within the framework…as coaches, we are trying to build his confidence but we're trying to win hockey games."

By the Numbers

Saturday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jake DeBrusk
Nick Ritchie - David Krejci - Jack Studnicka
Trent Frederic - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Anders Bjork - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy
Connor Clifton - Brandon Carlo
Jakub Zboril - Kevan Miller
GOALIES
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask