Need to Know: Bruins vs. Panthers | Game 1

BOSTON - The Bruins' quest for a seventh Stanley Cup begins on Monday night.
But what their lineup looks like for Game 1 against the Florida Panthers remains a major question mark. Per coach Jim Montgomery, several players are under the weather as a "bug" makes its way through the Bruins dressing room, leaving some doubt as to who might suit up at TD Garden.

"We have not only [Patrice] Bergeron, but a couple of guys under the weather, so I don't have the definitive lineup right now for tonight," said Montgomery. "I'd love to come in here and tell you the exact lines and who's in net. And that's the luxury we have is we have incredible depth.
"Whoever ends up being healthy enough to go tonight, we know we're going to have a good opportunity to have success if we play Bruins hockey, we know it's going to be a great test no matter what."
With the status of both Linus Ullmark (left the penultimate game of the regular season due to injury) and Jeremy Swayman (missed Sunday's practice with illness) also in question, Montgomery added that he has not yet been able to determine a starting goalie for Game 1. Swayman did return to the ice for an optional skate on Monday morning.
Boston also recalled Brandon Bussi from Providence on an emergency basis to serve as the third goalie.
"We're just going to see how he feels this morning," Montgomery said of Ullmark. "Swayman was one of the guys that fell ill, so we'll see how he feels as well…we called up Bussi because of illness, but he's in an emergency situation. We don't expect to have to use him, but he's good if things go drastically wrong tonight."
Despite the questions surrounding the Bruins' lineup, Montgomery reiterated that he is confident in his group, given how well they were able to perform all season long despite a number of injuries to key players.
"I mean, I look back at the beginning of the year and we knew we had three guys out," Montgomery said of Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk. "We may have three guys out tonight. Don [Sweeney] has done an incredible job of building the depth of our lineup throughout the year. And we know we're going to have it…we are going to put a really good lineup out on the ice no matter who is out there."

Jake DeBrusk said that when it comes to the "bug" that is making its away around the room, the players are trying to take extra precautions to avoid being the latest to fall ill.
"Trying to dodge the guys who have it," DeBrusk said with a smile. "It's just more so one of those things where it sucks but it happens sometimes and it's one of those things where you just try to dodge and wash your hands."
DeBrusk recalled some of Boston's biggest wins of the regular season - including their record-breaking 63rd victory in Philadelphia - coming without several of the team's top players as reason to believe the Bruins can overcome any absences from the lineup.
"I think overall our whole team has confidence in our depth," he said. "We've had guys that missed some time, especially at the beginning of the year. It just kind of grew as the year went on. At the same time, we're just looking at the next shift and keeping things in front of us.
"I think that's something that we've had ever since I've been here. But especially this year, I feel like we've had lots of injuries, the main guys…even I missed a lot of time. It's one of those things where it's opportunity for other guys."
That "next-man-up" mentality is a critical part of the team's "process" that Montgomery has stated as having guided Boston to much of its success throughout the year.
"Well, [the process] everything to us," he said. "And the reason it's everything is because when we get the big moments like now, we have something that has bonded us together all year long, and it's that process that we believe in.
"So, instead of getting anxious, worrying about the result, we've immersed ourselves in the process all year long, which allows you to just go out and execute and play fast and just be worried about the moment, which is that shift."

Krejci, Forbort to Return

Among the players that are expected back in the lineup are David Krejci and Derek Forbort, both of whom missed extended time toward the end of the regular season. Krejci sat out the final six games, while Forbort missed the last month with a lower-body injury.
"I feel good, I feel rested," said Krejci. "Hopefully that will help me and I can make a difference."
Montgomery said he noticed a notable difference in Krejci's skating game during both practices over the weekend.
"He's been really good," said Montgomery. "He's skating better than he has in two months, in my opinion, the last couple of days. So, I'm glad that we took the precautionary measures we did with him because he looks good and you could tell that he has that twinkle in his eye, which is good. He's got that little grin on his face when he knows more than me, which he does."
Boston's bench boss also said that Nick Foligno, who has missed nearly two months with a lower-body injury, is a "strong possibility" to play in Game 1.

A Big Day for Boston

With the Bruins kicking off the postseason on Patriots' Day, which of course coincides with the Boston Marathon and the Red Sox' traditional morning first pitch, the Black & Gold are expecting TD Garden to be bumping for Game 1.
"It's always nice to start at home," said Jake DeBrusk. "With all those things going on, it's gonna be jumping and buzzing. We love that…we're gonna try to get that crowd engaged as much as possible and give them something to cheer about."
Montgomery, who attended the University of Maine, recalled the days of hearing teams about how special Patriots' Day in Boston can be from his local Black Bears teammates.
"It's awesome to be part of it," he said. "The staff, players that have been here a long time talked about it. I remember being in college and a lot of the Boston teammates that had Massachusetts roots talking about Marathon day and how it was the best party day of the year. So, I mean, I imagine every crowd's going to be loud tonight."
Krejci said his wife, Naomi, is running the Marathon, though he'll have to track her from afar as he prepares for Game 1. Bruins legend Zdeno Chara also took part in his first Boston Marathon and finished in 3 hours, 38 minutes, 23 seconds.
"I was hoping that the game's were going to start [Tuesday]. It is what it is…just go home, eat, take a nap," said Krejci. "She runs pretty well, I don't know about Zee. We'll see."

Wait, There's More

• Montgomery said the Bruins must be aware of the offense that Florida generates from the back end. Blue liner Brandon Montour had 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games, while Gustav Forsling (13 goals) and Aaron Ekblad (14 goals) also hit double digits in goals. "They're all great skaters and very adept offensively and, quite frankly, defensively," said Montgomery.
• Montgomery said he woke up at 4:30 on Monday with excitement for the start of the postseason. "I was wide awake," he said. "I'm still wide awake now and I'm hoping I'm going to want to take a nap. But the mind may just keep racing…there's no better thing in the world to me than being part of the Stanley Cup playoffs, representing the spoked B and being able to go out and play in front of our fans tonight."
• Florida coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Alex Lyon will make the start in goal for the Panthers.