Nordstrom Bumped Up to Second Line

BOSTON - The Bruins' second line will have a different look when they take the ice against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
Coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed following morning skate that Joakim Nordstrom would be inserted into the lineup as the second-line left wing, with Jake DeBrusk shifting over to play the right side. Rookie Ryan Donato will be the healthy scratch.
"Right now [Nordstrom's] a more 200-foot player," said Cassidy. "That's why we signed him, we can move him around. Is it the long-term plan? We'd like Ryan to develop into that top-six or nine…[across the NHL] you're seeing a lot of [third] lines that score; not just two, and then checking, and then energy. Whether it's the second or third [line], that's where we'd like him to get to. I think we'll get him there. It's just not tonight."

Donato registered one goal through the season's first three games - a power-play tally against the Sabres last Thursday night - but Cassidy pointed to the 22-year-old's play away from the puck as the biggest area for improvement.
"Look at the benefits. I can go up and watch the game, look at some of the things they want me to work on and hopefully turn this whole thing into a positive," said Donato. "Overall, there's some clips video-wise that they pointed out to me…where to be at certain times. But overall it's easier to see when you're above and I think they know that, so I think they want to give me at least a game to see it from above and understand it on a deeper level."

Nordstrom was a healthy scratch for the Bruins' win over the Senators on Monday, after skating in the bottom six for the first two contests of the season. Despite making the jump to play alongside David Krejci, the winger is not expecting to alter his game.
"Same deal," said Nordstrom. "Just got to go out and skate hard, play hard, hold onto to pucks and just compete. We have a lot of skilled players, good players. I knew for sure there was gonna be some rotations. Everyone wants to play, but we have more players than spots, so that's just the nature of it. That's how it's gonna be."
Krejci noted Nordstrom's speed as the most important element he'll bring to the line, but said ultimately the trio's success will depend on its play in the defensive zone - as well as his own play.
"He brought lots of speed to our line, especially this morning. He's really good in his own zone…that's what we're betting on, playing really well int he D-zone and go from there.
"If I play well, I make players around me better. I didn't do that the last couple games, so that's on me. But it's a new day, Game 4 tonight, and ready to go."

Halak Will Start

Cassidy also confirmed that Jaroslav Halak will make his second start of the season between the pipes, with Tuukka Rask expected to start on Saturday against Detroit.
"Just scripted that way," said Cassidy. "[Halak] played Thursday in Buffalo. We're trying to space out his starts so there's not too much time in between. Right now we've got Tuukka back in Saturday."

Thursday's Projected Lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Joakim Nordstrom - David Krejci - Jake DeBrusk
Danton Heinen - David Backes - Anders Bjork
Chris Wagner - Sean Kuraly - Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Kevan Miller
John Moore - Brandon Carlo
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Ryan Donato, Steven Kampfer