“That’s the biggest goal throughout the entire regular season,” said Bruins blue liner Brandon Carlo. “So, we obviously think about it. But we still have plenty of games left that we have to go through. I think at this point, yeah, we’re obviously looking forward to making that a certainty that we’re going to be in the playoffs with winning games.
“And from there, you just continue to battle to do your best to get positioning and things like that, to set yourself up as best as you can for the playoffs. But that’s a huge thing. It’s an expectation here in Boston every year to be in the playoffs. And it’s great to get to that point where you can achieve that.”
Here’s everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 pm puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:
Still Shorthanded
The Bruins will be without David Pastrnack (undisclosed), Hampus Lindolm (lower-body), and Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body) against the Blues. Cassidy said that Pastrnak, who has missed the last three games, and Lindholm, who has sat out the past two contests, took the ice before Tuesday’s morning skating but are not progressing as quickly as originally anticipated.
“I don’t have a whole lot new. I guess they’re dragging on a little longer than I thought with the first diagnosis,” said Cassidy. “Other than that, I wish I had better news. I still don’t believe it will be long, long term. But I thought both would be a little farther along by this time when we first got the reports out of Detroit and Columbus .”
With Grzelcyk sidelined after leaving Sunday’s game in Washington, Connor Clifton will return to the lineup and play the left side on Boston’s third pairing with Josh Brown.
“Feels a little better, but we’ll aim for Thursday,” Cassidy said of Grzelcyk, who has missed time at various point this season with an upper-body injury. “We’re gonna have to deal with it. He’ll have to deal with it. He usually rebounds quickly. Got to keep your fingers crossed a little bit in that regard. But we’ll have to have other guys ready to go.” if it happens again.”
Jack Ahcan is with the club as insurance with fellow left-side defensemen Lindholm and Grzelcyk out of the lineup.
“We didn’t think Grizz would have a quick turnaround and we wanted to make sure we had enough bodies today,” said Cassidy. “We’ll go from there. Some of [whether or not Ahcan gets in] will depend on Grizz’s recovery, which I think is gonna be quick. If not, then we’d have to look at Jack.”
Video: Cassidy speaks with media on Tuesday at WIA
Back in Boston
Torey Krug, who has not played since March 22 because of an upper-body injury, took part in the Blues’ morning skate at TD Garden on Tuesday and could return to the lineup. St. Louis coach Craig Berube told reporters “there’s a good chance” the defenseman plays, per StLouisBlues.com, which would mark Krug’s first game in Boston as a visitor after signing with the Blues in November 2020.
“It’s crazy that it’s been two years and he hasn’t been back yet. Had the opportunity to go say hi to him last night, so that was nice,” said Carlo, who spent several seasons as Krug’s defense partner with the B’s. “It felt very natural just being in Boston with him for sure. It’s a moment that I’m sure he’s looked forward to, to coming back here and kind of battling it out against us.
“It’ll be fun, give him a smile in warmup. But after that, you’ve got to go with the Zdeno Chara mentality with no friends on the ice and continue on from there, play the game. Then you can say hi afterwards or whatnot.
“But definitely will be different. I have watched some games on the TV. At first it was weird to see him in that uniform, but I’m getting more used to it now.”
Krug spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Black & Gold, helping Boston to two Stanley Cup Final appearances. The blue liner played 523 games with the B’s, notching 67 goals and 337 points, the latter being the most among American-born players in team history.
“I always enjoyed his personality,” said Cassidy. “He’s got plenty of confidence without being one of those arrogant guys. I think he has a sense of humor so he could be a prankster…that lightened up everybody; I think he did it at the appropriate times. I think he was great in the community, a guy who loves Boston.
“And in the room, he would speak his mind. I know myself, whether it was a D meeting or power play, he had no problem telling me, ‘Hey, that’s not what I saw,’ and we’d hash it out I appreciate that in a guy.Yet when the puck dropped, he was on board with whatever we were doing.
“I have a real affinity for Torey as a person and a player. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out here and he moved on to St. Louis, but it doesn’t change the way I feel about him as a guy. I wish him all the best, maybe not so much tonight, but in general.
Carlo echoed Cassidy’s sentiments, saying he learned a lot from Krug about leadership and how to carry himself in the dressing room.
“I was actually talking to him last night – I asked him how many years he had been in the league by the time that I got in because he just had that veteran presence,” said Carlo. “I would have guessed it was a lot longer than four years that he had been here…his confidence within the leadership aspect and just on the ice and the way he carried himself in general – very mature guy, very, very, vocal as well in the ways that he needed to be for leadership.
“I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to play with him. I felt like I grew a lot within those years of having him as my partner. It’s something that I always look back on and will be thankful for.”
Video: Carlo speaks with media at WIA
Opposing View
The Blues have won five straight games, including a sweep of their four-game homestand, and carry an eight-game point streak into Tuesday’s matchup. St. Louis is tied with Minnesota for the second-most points in the Central Division with 94.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas are all tied for the team scoring lead with 65 points each. Tarasenko also leads the club with 26 goals, while Pavel Buchnevich (25), Kyrou (23), Ivan Barbashev (23), David Perron (23), Brayden Schenn (21), and Brandon Saad (20) have all hit the 20 -goal plateau.
The Bruins and Blues will be meeting for the first time since Oct. 26, 2019.
Tuesday’s Projected Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Jake DeBrusk
taylor hall – Erik Haula – Marc McLaughlin
Trent Frederick – charlie coyle – Craig Smith
Nick Foligno – Thomas Nosek – Curtis Lazar
DEFENSE
Derek Forbort – Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reily -Brandon Carlo
Connor CliftonJosh Brown
GOALIES
jeremy swayman
Linus Ulmark
Video: B’s hoping to clinch playoff spot vs. blues tonight
www.nhl.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism