Need to Know: Bruins vs. Red Wings

BOSTON - The Bruins will be without both their head coach and leading scorer on Tuesday when they host the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Following the announcement of Brad Marchand's three-game suspension on Monday evening, Boston revealed ahead of its morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena on Tuesday morning that bench boss Bruce Cassidy has been placed into COVID-19 protocols.
"He's feeling overall fine," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. "I spoke with him a few minutes ago. Mild symptoms associated with it. Thankful for that. Obviously, we're running his family through testing and such to make sure we're just keep staying on top of it like we are with all of our own situations within the locker room. Health is what's most important in this."

With Cassidy away from the team, assistant coach Joe Sacco will take over primary duties behind the bench. Goaltending coach Bob Essensa and skating and skills coach Kim Brandvold will also take on more responsibility. Sweeney added that assistant coach Chris Kelly is currently away from the team and expected to rejoin the club before the weekend.
"Kevin [Dean] will stay as is," said Sweeney. "[Kelly's] out for a few more days as well. We'll actually probably use Goalie Bob and Kim Brandvold a bit in terms of just reinforcing some of the things that the full staff would be doing in an in-game situation. Like we do with our players, next man up."
The Bruins are currently unable to utilize staff or players from the Providence Bruins due to the AHL club's own issues with COVID-19.
"Providence, just to be clear, is not an option for us to bring players up from Providence. They're in a bit of a lockdown situation," said Sweeney. "They had a significant breakout associated with their really difficult travel over the weekend and some situations around their division. We're certainly balancing a little bit of player availability as well as coaches and staff with the Providence situation."

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron acknowledged that the given the current rise in COVID-19 cases globally, it was almost a matter of time before the team experienced an issue of its own.
"You kind of saw it coming," said Bergeron. "You were hoping it was nothing and just stay as precautionary as possible, but that being said, the outbreaks were rising - rising not only across the league, but across the world. We've been there before and now it's back to the mask. And that's it.
"It's always the next guy up and moving forward. We're going to do what needs to be done in respect of the protocols and respect the doctors and people that are dealing with all the science and I go from there."

Hall Heads to Top Line

With Marchand out of the lineup, Taylor Hall will bump up to play on the Bruins' top line with Bergeron and Daivd Pastrnak. The winger will also take Marchand's spot on Boston's first power-play unit.
"Well, I think he's an extremely smart player," said Bergeron. "A great deal of speed and very deceptive with the puck. He's really good at seeing plays and making plays. I think it's one of those things where when you do have a new good player, you make sure you communicate well, read off one another and sometimes it is an adjustment.
"But that being said, I do expect the results to be good Just play our game and stick to that and everyone adjust to one another."

DeBrusk Will Be in the Lineup

Sweeney confirmed media reports that winger Jake DeBrusk has requested a trade and "made it known that he would prefer a new opportunity." But given the absence of left wingers Marchand and Anton Blidh (upper-body injury), DeBrusk will be back in the lineup against the Red Wings after being a healthy scratch on Sunday night. Erik Haula, also a healthy scratch for the B's win over the Canucks, will be back in as well.
"We expect Jake to play well," said Sweeney. "This comes down to the Boston Bruins having to make a hockey decision. And for Jake, it comes down to him playing his best hockey. Whether that's for us - and hopefully that's for us tonight - but also if it is leading to an opportunity elsewhere, he has to play his best hockey.
"Jake's a really good player. He's a valuable player for us. He has to impact the game tonight for us. That's what we expect him to do."

Rask Still A Possibility

Sweeney indicated that nothing has changed when it comes to the Bruins' opinion of goaltender Tuukka Rask, who continues to rehab from offseason hip surgery each day at Warrior Ice Arena. Should Rask feel that he is healthy enough to continue his career at the completion of his recovery, Sweeney said that the organization's all-time winningest goalie is likely to rejoin the Bruins.
"As I've said, there's been a general understanding that Tuukka has to make a decision on his health first and foremost," said Sweeney. "And when he's able to do that officially and declare himself that this is what he wants to do and play then we'll find the common ground. We have not hidden from that fact that if indeed he is healthy and wants to play, then he's likely to be a part of our group."
When it comes to the Bruins' current goaltending tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark - the latter of whom will make the start against the Red Wings - Sweeney believes there remains room to grow, particularly when it comes to Swayman, who is just 20 games into his NHL career.
"They've been OK. I think both of them have really, really strong pockets of games and other times where they haven't played quite as well as they would like in some situations," said Sweeney. "We have higher expectations for everybody in that sense. I don't think Linus and Jeremy would say it any differently than I am. They go to work every day and another good opportunity tonight.
"But we're still in a good place where our goaltending and our depth is overall. If we have to address something we will."

Tuesday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Nick Foligno - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Tomas Nosek - Trent Frederic - Karson Kuhlman
Jake DeBrusk - Erik Haula - Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Derek Forbort - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Mike Reilly - Jakub Zboril
GOALIES
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman