The Bruins may not have a clear idea of who will score goals, and they’re still sorting out the ideal penalty-kill unit, but look on the bright side: at least hockey is back.
The Bruins leadership team of president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney is bullish on the players the team has brought in to make up for trading Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle at the deadline last season.
“I was forward in mentioning I just didn’t think we were as invested as a group last year, and it always starts with the players, from that standpoint,” Sweeney said this week. “We did not raise our level of competition in daily preparation that was necessary, and it showed up. And this year I’m hopeful that the attention to detail of the structure and the things that we’re trying to emphasize, but most importantly, the competitiveness will show up and needs to show up and the guys in the locker room I think are recognizing it.”
Marchand was in Florida last night celebrating the Panthers’ Stanley Cup victory after signing a six-year deal to remain with the team that traded for him in March. Coyle was traded to the Blue Jackets after being dealt to the Avalanche in March.
Advertisement
New Boston boss Marco Sturm, replacing interim coach Joe Sacco, is happy to welcome back Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm on defense. The duo missed 97 combined games last season due to injuries. Lindholm (knee) played just 17.
Advertisement
David Pastrnak is aiming for his fourth straight 100-point season, but the team will play without either Patrice Bergeron or Marchand in a season opener for the first time since 2002-03.
Here’s your preview.
Bruins at Capitals
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
TV, radio: HBO Max, TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Washington -185. O/U: 5.5.
BRUINS
Season record: 0-0-0. vs. spread: 0-0. Over/under: 0-0
Last 10 games: 3-6-1. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 7-3
CAPITALS
Season record: 0-0-0. vs. spread: 0-0. Over/under: 0-0
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 3-7
Stat of the day: Boston tied for an Eastern Conference-low 76 points last season.
Notes: The Capitals enter the season aiming to build on their Eastern Conference-best record a year ago. … Washington’s roster has undergone little change since a second-round playoff exit last spring. Alex Ovechkin still leads the way, entering his 21st season sitting just three goals away from becoming the first 900-goal scorer in NHL history. … The Capitals also benefited from Dylan Strome’s career-high 82 points, making him one of seven 20-goal and 50-point scorers on the team. Ryan Leonard made his debut in the NHL after consecutive 30-goal campaigns at Boston College. … Fellow top-liner Tom Wilson also produced his first 30-goal season. Defenseman John Carlson and goalie Logan Thompson return in back. … Only former Panthers forward Justin Sourdif and ex-Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm are new to the fold in Washington. … For Boston, old friend Sean Kuraly returned from the Blue Jackets in free agency. Michael Eyssimont (Kraken) and Tanner Jeannot (Kings) also arrived, hoping to add more grit to the lineup. … Four of the five Globe staffers asked for their predictions have the Bruins making the playoffs as a wild card. See their other selections here.
Advertisement
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report
Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her on Instagram at @katiemac.sports.