Bruins-Sabres Projected Lines, Pairings: Charlie Coyle Bumps Up
The Bruins will finally return home on Saturday, as they get on the other side of a five-game road trip with a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden.
Boston will make a few changes, with one veteran returning to a familiar spot.
Charlie Coyle will bump up to the top line to skate with Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand, while Cole Keopke will return to the lineup in place of Marc McLaughlin.
“I just think it gives us a chance to see how three of our top players can play together again,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco said, per team-provided video. “… I want to see Charlie there, it gives him an opportunity to maybe generate some more offense with those guys, too.”
Joonas Korpisalo will get the start over Jeremy Swayman.
Boston and Buffalo are set to drop the puck at 7 p.m. ET, following an hour of pregame coverage on NESN.
We have the projected lines and defensive pairings for both sides:
BOSTON BRUINS (17-13-4)
Brad Marchand — Elias Lindholm — Charlie Coyle
Morgan Geekie — Pavel Zacha — David Pastrnak
Oliver Wahlstrom — Trent Frederic — Justin Brazeau
Johnny Beecher — Mark Kastelic — Cole Koepke
Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
Jordan Oesterle — Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei — Andrew Peeke
Joonas Korpisalo
BUFFALO SABRES (11-18-4)
Jason Zucker — Tage Thompson — Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka — Dylan Cozens — Jack Quinn
Zach Benson — Jiri Kulich — Peyton Krebs
Beck Malenstyn — Ryan McLeod — Sam Lafferty
Rasmus Dahlin — Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson — Owen Power
Dennis Gilbert — Connor Clifton
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen