How Two Bruins Forwards Can Play Their Way Back Into Lineup

Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery had no issue tinkering with his team’s lineup in search of the right line combinations through the first five games of the season.

That meant that in Wednesday’s road win over the Colorado Avalanche, forwards Morgan Geekie and Justin Brazeau were the latest pair of Bruins skaters to be healthy scratches.

Montgomery evidently wasn’t completely satisfied with the play of Geekie and Brazeau leading to the lineup change. And the Bruins bench boss laid out what he wants to see from the two if they want to stick in the lineup going forward.

“More energy, more determined puck possession, create more turnovers, being a little more relentless in their pursuit of pucks,” Montgomery told reporters Friday ahead of Boston’s matchup against the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday, per team-provided video.

Geekie and Brazeau haven’t provided a lift to the Bruins this season. Geekie hasn’t registered a point in four games while Brazeau has just one assist. Geekie’s playing time is also down over two minutes compared to last season — his first campaign with the Bruins in which he tallied career highs in goals (17), assists (22) and points (39).

It appears the two won’t be out of the line for a second consecutive game, though. According to The Boston Globe’s Jim McBride, Geekie skated on the third line at left wing alongside Matthew Poitras and Trent Fredric during Friday’s practice while Brazeau was up on the second line at left wing as well playing with Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand. Max Jones and Riley Tufte were the extra skaters.

Boston’s tilt against Utah is a perfect opportunity for Geekie and Brazeau to make an impact. Montgomery gave them the blueprint on how to do so. They just have to follow it now.

The Bruins and Utah drop the puck from Delta Center on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. You can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.