Need to Know: Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

BOSTON – It’s set to be a raucous night on Causeway Street.

Not only are the Black & Gold hosting the Atlantic Division rival Toronto Maple Leafs for the clubs’ last meeting of the regular season, but the showdown comes on Boston’s final Era Night of the Centennial celebration, as the team gets set to honor the Bruins of the early 2000s and the 2011 Stanley Cup champions.

“It will be exciting, for sure,” said Bruins captain Brad Marchand. “Toronto’s been probably our biggest rivalry in the last decade. They’ve been a great team. We’ve had some really good playoff series – probably between them and Tampa we’ve competed the most and had some of the most exciting games. The fans definitely embrace it and enjoy it.

“And then you add the guys coming back, even a lot of the guys from the different teams before [2011]. The building will be rocking. It will be exciting and should be a lot of fun. It’s exciting for the group in here to use that as some motivation to come out hard tonight.”

Many of Marchand’s former teammates, as well as some of the Bruins from the early 2000s, attended morning skate and were visiting the dressing room after the session. Among the visitors: Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Tim Thomas, Claude Julien, Andrew Ference, Michael Ryder, Dennis Seidenberg, Daniel Paille, P.J. Axelsson, P.J. Stock, Byron Dafoe, Hal Gill, Mike Knuble and Kyle McLaren.

“What I notice on the Era Nights is our normal preparation is the same in the morning,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “And having a few of them around, like Ference was around, Claude, Big Zee…it adds to our players about why it's special to be a Bruin. Then tonight the ceremony gives us a lot of emotion.”

Boston is also carrying a six-game winning streak against Toronto into the contest – including Monday’s 4-1 win at Scotiabank Arena – though Marchand does not believe the past should have any bearing on things moving forward.

“Just because we’ve won in the past doesn’t mean [anything],” he said. “It’s not going to have an impact on any game moving forward. It’s a game we get up for. They’re a very gifted and talented team…we feel that every time we go to that building and every time they come here it’s exciting and one we look forward to.

“I think guys get up for the game and you can tell they do, too. They’re always very intense, emotional games that usually come down to the wire, OT. It’s a lot of fun to play against them. Those are the games you want to be a part of.”

Marchand added that the Bruins must try to keep the focus on the game and away from Friday’s looming trade deadline.

“We just have to control what we can control, stay in the moment,” said Marchand. “It definitely is nerve-racking coming close to the deadline and the uncertainty of it. But I think the easiest way to go about that is to just come in and focus on doing your job every day and performing at your best and trying to keep your mind off things that are out of your control.

“At the end of the day, things are going to play out a certain way and just have to be grateful regardless of how it plays out, grateful for the opportunity to be in this league and be an NHL player.”

Wait, There’s More

• Jeremy Swayman was the first goalie off the ice at morning skate, indicating that he is slated to get the start on Thursday night against Toronto.
• Derek Forbort did not participate in Thursday’s skate at TD Garden and is considered day-to-day, per Montgomery. “Just dealing with some minor aches and pains,” he said.
• Hampus Lindholm, meanwhile, did take part in the session and is continuing to progress in his rehab after missing the last eight games with injury. “Still not an option but he’s getting closer every day,” said Montgomery.

Thursday’s Projected Lineup

FORWARDS

Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk

Danton Heinen – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak

James van Riemsdyk – Morgan Geekie – Trent Frederic

Jakub Lauko – Jesper Boqvist – Justin Brazeau

DEFENSEMEN

Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy

Mason Lohrei – Brandon Carlo

Parker Wotherspoon – Kevin Shattenkirk

GOALIES

Jeremy Swayman

Linus Ullmark