Bruins Open Road Trip Against Sharks With McAvoy Back and Swayman Starting
Boston takes a two-game win streak into San Jose, where Charlie McAvoy returns and Jeremy Swayman is set for his fourth straight start.
Boston begins a four-game road swing with a late test against San Jose, carrying two straight wins and a refreshed defensive pair into Tuesday night’s matchup. The Bruins are 4-2-0; the Sharks are 3-2-0. Puck drop at SAP Center is scheduled for 11:00 p.m. Eastern, with the game closing out Tuesday’s NHL Frozen Frenzy slate.
The biggest change for Boston is Charlie McAvoy’s return. Coach Marco Sturm’s practice combinations put McAvoy with Hampus Lindholm on the top defensive pair, while Nikita Zadorov and Will Borgen form the next duo. The Bruins have allowed one goal in each of their past two games, so the reshuffle comes as the group tries to maintain that recent defensive form on the road.
Jeremy Swayman is expected to start for the fourth consecutive game, NESN’s Adam Pellerin reported. Swayman enters with a 4-1-0 record, a 1.79 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. His workload is a notable part of the setup for a trip that continues with three more games after San Jose.
What to watch in San Jose
The Sharks have had an uneven start by results: three wins in their first five games, all three earned in overtime, followed by a 3-1 loss to Edmonton on Saturday. Their record points to a club that has found ways to stay in games, though the latest outing ended without another extra-time escape.
Macklin Celebrini is back after missing two games with a lower-body injury. He returned Saturday and leads San Jose with six points, with one goal and five assists. His placement between Igor Chernyshov and Will Smith gives the Sharks a top line built around their leading scorer as they look to respond to the Edmonton defeat.
There’s also a recent head-to-head wrinkle for Boston. The Bruins once put together a 14-game winning streak against San Jose, but the Sharks have taken the past three meetings, including two at SAP Center. That run gives the home side a recent edge in the matchup, even as Boston arrives with the better of the two clubs’ current winning momentum.
Expected Bruins lineup
Forwards
Morgan Geekie – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Marat Khusnutdinov – Fraser Minten – JJ Peterka
Casey Mittelstadt – Elias Lindholm – James Hagens
Tanner Jeannot – Matt Poitras – Mark Kastelic
Defensemen
Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy
Nikita Zadorov – Will Borgen
Frederic Brunet – Mason Lohrei
Lineup source: Belle Fraser, Boston Bruins
Starting goalie
Jeremy Swayman (4-1-0, 1.79 GAA, .932 SV%). Reported by Adam Pellerin of NESN.
Expected Sharks lineup
Forwards
Igor Chernyshov – Macklin Celebrini – Will Smith
Ivar Stenberg – Michael Misa – Kiefer Sherwood
Mason Marchment – Alexander Wennberg – Tyler Toffoli
Barclay Goodrow – Zack Ostapchuk – Collin Graf
Defensemen
Darnell Nurse – Michael Kesselring
Sam Dickinson – Jacob Trouba
Dmitry Orlov – Luca Cagnoni
Lineup source: Sheng Peng, San Jose Hockey Now.
Starting goalie
Yaroslav Askarov (2-2-0, 3.71 GAA, .860 SV%). Reported by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
Special teams and schedule
Boston’s power play is operating at 18.8 percent, ranked 21st, while its penalty kill is at 81.0 percent, ranked 17th. San Jose’s power play stands at 15.4 percent (22nd), and its penalty kill is 81.3 percent (15th). Those figures put both penalty-killing units close together, with Boston holding the higher power-play rate entering the game.
The teams meet again Saturday, Oct. 24, in Boston at 7:00 p.m. Their first meeting is Tuesday in San Jose at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Boston’s road trip continues Friday, Oct. 16, at Anaheim (10:00 p.m.), then Saturday, Oct. 17, at Los Angeles (9:00 p.m.), before a Tuesday, Oct. 20, visit to Dallas (8:00 p.m.). The Bruins return home Thursday, Oct. 22, to face Nashville at 7:00 p.m.
How to watch
Tuesday’s game starts at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. NESN carries the broadcast in New England, ESPN carries it outside the region, and radio coverage is available on 98.5 The Sports Hub. The late start opens Boston’s road trip with a chance to extend its two-game run, while McAvoy’s return and Swayman’s fourth straight start are the key lineup details to track.
