Need to Know: Bruins vs. Hurricanes

BOSTON - The Bruins will be without
Brad Marchand
and Patrice Bergeron for Thursday night's matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. With Marchand serving his first game of a six-game suspension and Bergeron out with a head injury, the B's will have some younger players in the lineup with the chance to step up.
Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Studnicka Steps Up

With the absence of Marchand and Bergeron, the lineup is going to look a bit different tonight, as Jack Studnicka will skate in between Frederic and Foligno. Oskar Steen will come out of the lineup.
"With Bergy out, another right shot centermen is a good opportunity for Jack, and then we'll see how it goes from there," said Cassidy.
Studnicka has spent most of the year in Providence, where he has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points on the year. Studnicka has played five games with the B's, the last one coming back on December 16 on the road vs the Rangers. Studnicka has been playing good hockey as of late, having two goals and three assists in his last five games in Providence.
"He's been better in Providence of late, so that's good," said Cassidy. "He's coming up here, hopefully in a good spot and good frame of mind."

Frederic Returns

Frederic also makes his return to the lineup tonight after missing a month to the date with an upper-body injury. With Marchand and Bergeron sidelined, Frederic will be among those expected to step up and do their part.
"There's minutes for other players and that's what makes a good team," said Cassidy. "Now's a chance for someone else to say, 'OK, there's a little more oxygen in the room, so to speak, for me. I'll grab it and run with it and only help themselves.'"
Cassidy recognizes that replacing Marchand and Bergeron is no easy task, but bringing some of what they bring will be key to the Bruins staying afloat in their absence.
"They're not going to be those two guys, but they have an opportunity to give us some of that," said Cassidy.

Opposing View

The Hurricanes lead the Atlantic division with a 31-10-3 record but have lost their last two games this past Monday and Tuesday vs the Tampa Bay Lighting and the Ottowa Senators. All-Star Sebastian Aho leads the Canes with 46 points and 19 goals in 41 games, not far behind is Andrei Svechnikov who has 39 points and 17 goals.
The Canes top line left wing, Teuvo Teravainen, is expected to return to the lineup tonight after dealing with a lingering upper-body injury.
The last time the teams bet was back on January 18th at TD Garden where the Canes broke the B's five game win streak in a 7-1 loss.

Wait There's More

• The line of Taylor Hall, Erik Haula, and David Pastrnak will stay put tonight. Pastrnak has been on fire as of late, scoring 12 goals in the month of January, and already has four in February.
• Charlie Coyle, Craig Smith and Jake DeBrusk will skate together on the second line and Tomas Nosek, Anton Blidh, and Curtis Lazar will make up the fourth. "Nosek, Blidh and Lazar play a lot together, so they'll stay together," said Cassidy.

Thursday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall
- Erik Haula -
David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk
-
Charlie Coyle
-
C
raig Smith
Trent Frederic - Jack Studnicka - Nick Foligno
Anton Blidh -
Tomas Nosek
-
Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk
-
Charlie McAvoy 
Mike Reilly
-
Brandon Carlo 
Derek Forbort
-
Connor Clifton 
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark 
Jeremy Swayman