The Bruins wrap up their two-game road swing Thursday night in St. Louis, where they’ll face the Blues at Enterprise Center with Jeremy Swayman in goal.
Boston enters at 9-3-1, while St. Louis is 5-6-1. Swayman has been steady through 10 games this season, posting a 2.19 goals against average, a .921 save percentage, and a 7-2-1 record.
The Blues will counter with Joel Hofer, who has appeared in eight games in 2026-27 and carries a 2.40 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, and a 4-3-1 record.
Boston is also making one change on defense, with Connor Clifton drawing back into the lineup and Frederic Brunet coming out as a healthy scratch.
“I think it's part of the process going with young players and especially with Brunet,” said Bruins head coach Marco Sturm on the decision. “He’s done a really good job.
Really good job. What we noticed the last two [and] three games, we kind of got stuck a little bit and yeah, we're just going to reset him.
I think it's going to be good for him. It's just, again, it's part of the process and I believe in that and also we have a big roster too.
So, we have some other guys that ready to go and Cliff [Clifton] is one of them.”
The Bruins’ forward group will line up with JJ Peterka, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak on the top line, followed by Marat Khusnutdinov, Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie; Casey Mittelstadt, Elias Lindholm and James Hagens; and Tanner Jeannot, Matthew Poitras and Mark Kastelic.
On defense, Boston will roll out Hampus Lindholm with Charlie McAvoy, Nikita Zadorov with Will Borgen, and Mason Lohrei with Clifton. Michael DiPietro is listed behind Swayman.
St. Louis’ projected lineup features Jake Neighbours, Robert Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud up front, with Pavel Buchnevich, Mason McTavish and Jonatan Berggren on the second line. Dylan Holloway, Dalibor Dvorsky and Connor McMichael make up the third unit, while Alexey Toropchenko, Pius Suter and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki round out the forwards.
The Blues’ defense pairs Philip Broberg with Brandon Carlo, Cam Fowler with Colton Parayko, and Justin Barron with Adam Jiricek. Jordan Binnington is listed as the backup behind Hofer.
In Other News...
Bruins Face A Tough Call On A Veteran Forward Drawing Buzz
The early chatter around the Senators search for forward help has put a few familiar names into circulation, and one of them is drawing attention inside the Bruins orbit. League talk has centered on a small pool of possible trade candidates, with Teuvo Tervinen, Michael Rasmussen and Andrew Copp among the players mentioned as options as clubs try to sort through a thin market.
For Boston, the interesting part is Mikey Eyssimonts place in the mix. He is in the final year of his contract and has been thriving with Providence, which makes him a useful depth option if the Bruins need help because of injuries and a player whose status can change quickly if the trade market keeps tightening. If the Senators or another team eventually come calling for forward pieces, Boston may have to weigh whether to keep a veteran who is playing well in the AHL or turn him into part of a larger roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Send Young Defenseman A Clear Message After Rough Night
Marco Sturms decision to scratch Frederic Brunet for the game against the St. Louis Blues was a clear reminder that roster spots have to be earned every night, especially for a young defenseman still trying to settle in. Brunet had done enough in training camp to make the team and saw regular ice during Charlie McAvoys suspension, so his place in the picture has not disappeared. But after a difficult outing against the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston chose to give him a reset rather than let the struggles carry over.
For a Bruins blue line that has already leaned on several moving parts early in the season, the move fits the practical side of coaching as much as the developmental side. Sturm has shown he is willing to reward performance and pull back when needed, and Brunets situation is the latest example of that approach. The expectation is that he will get another chance soon, with Chicago next on the schedule, but for now the message from the bench is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Forward Suddenly Enters A Rival's Search For Scoring Help
Ottawa is already working the phones for scoring help, and a Bruins fan watching the Atlantic may want to keep an eye on a familiar name. Senators general manager Steve Staios is exploring trade options for a winger after injuries thinned out his forward group, with Warren Foegele hurt and William Eklund sidelined following ankle surgery. The list of possible targets has a few different shapes to it, from established skill to more versatile depth, which suggests Ottawa is casting a fairly wide net as it tries to stay afloat offensively.
For Boston, the intrigue is less about the Senators immediate needs than the timing of any move. Staios would rather hold off on a major acquisition until the trade deadline gets closer, and that leaves this search in an early, fluid stage for now. Still, when a division rival starts looking for help on the wing, the market can shift quickly, and a Bruins-connected name could wind up in the middle of it before long. [Read more 🡒]