Bruins playoff lineup projection 2.0: Ullmark deserves Game 1 start
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Bruins playoff lineup projection 2.0: Ullmark deserves Game 1 start originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Just three games are left on the Boston Bruins’ regular season schedule, but they still have several decisions to make before finalizing their lineup for Game 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Bruins’ four-game win streak ended Tuesday with a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes at TD Garden. The B’s beat the ‘Canes by the same score in Carolina last week. Boston is still favored to win the Atlantic Division, but the Florida Panthers are just three points behind with both teams having played 79 games so far.
If the season ended today, the B’s would play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
What lineup decisions still need to be made before Game 1? Here’s our second Bruins playoff lineup projection.
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The Heinen-Zacha-Pastrnak trio has been on fire of late and will undoubtedly be the top line to begin the playoffs. This line’s chemistry and skill was on full display in last week’s win over the Predators when Zacha finished off a pretty passing sequence to give Boston a 2-0 lead.
The Bruins have a 17-6 goal differential at even strength when the Heinen-Zacha-Pastrnak line has been on the ice this season. There’s no reason to break up this trio.
Geekie played with Marchand and Coyle against the Panthers on Saturday and did well. His two-way skill set makes him a nice fit with those two veterans.
“He’s been really physical since he’s been up there,” Montgomery said of Geekie after the win over the Panthers. “He moves the puck well, makes really good wall plays, bumping underneath either to Coyle or to Marchand slashing. They seem to…
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