Golden Knights Gameday 27: Bruce’s Back v Big Bad Bruins: Lines and Notes vs Bruins

It's a matchup between the current two best teams in the league Monday evening as the Vegas Golden Knights (18-7-1, 37 points) take on the Boston Bruins (20-3-0, 40 points) at 4:00 p.m. The Bruins, in 14 games, have still not lost a game on home ice this season. If there is one team that could end this streak, it is the Golden Knights, who have an 11-2-1 record on the road.

This is the first matchup of the season series between these two teams. They will meet again in just six days with a 7:00 pm Dec. 11 game in Las Vegas. This game also marks the end of the Golden Knight's current four-game road trip, during which they are 2-1-0 so far.

Former Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy will return to Boston and the organization he spent 14 years with. 

The status of Massaschutches native Jack Eichel is that of a game-time decision. He left the Golden Knight's most recent game with an apparent leg injury. Alex Pietrangelo will also not be available for the Golden Knights as he misses his fourth-straight game due to personal reasons.

What to Watch For

Adjustments

The Golden Knights could potentially walk into this game without their two best players. It is already confirmed that Pietrangelo will be out, but if Eichel joins him, the VGK's depth will be tested immensely. Eichel skated Monday morning before the Golden Knight's morning skate, but Cassidy stated that he "didn't feel good" after skating. The team will wait a few hours before making a decision, but Cassidy confirmed that they have a backup plan.

Minus Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights inserted AHL callup Daniil Miromanov into the lineup. Without Eichel, Chandler Stephenson will likely move back to center, and Michael Amadio will rejoin the lineup, likely in the bottom six.

Bruce, There It Is

Cassidy's return to Boston not only means a welcome back for the former coach, but it also gives the Golden Knight's an advantage, given that Cassidy spent 14 years inside the opposing team's organization. Things have changed, but Bruce Cassidy still knows the Boston Bruins very well.

The Golden Knights are 7-0 against Atlantic Division teams this season, but the Bruins are 9-0 against Western Conference teams.

"I have noticed that our record against the Atlantic Division is really good. I know those teams a little better and can really help the pre-scout… we gotta another Atlantic Division one tomorrow that I should know about. I know the Bruins; they have obviously changed some things. They are playing great hockey, and it will be a big challenge for us," Cassidy said Sunday.

Negating the David Pastrnaks, Brad Marchands, and Patrice Bergerons, especially on home ice, will be critical for the Golden Knights.

Major Test

Overall, the script of this game is a very simple one. These are the two best teams in the NHL, one from the East, and one from the West, facing off against one another. It will be a huge measuring-stick game for the Golden Knights, especially without two of their top stars.

"It's going to be an epic battle tonight. Best home record and best away record. Two teams that are at the top of their divisions and trying to prove themselves in this league," said Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar.

Projected Vegas Golden Knights Line Combinations

Paul Cotter- Chandler Stephenson- Mark Stone (c)

Reilly Smith- William Karlsson- Jonathan Marchessault

Michael Amadio- Nicolas Roy- Phil Kessel

William Carrier- Jake Leschyshyn- Keegan Kolesar

Brayden McNabb- Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague– Alec Martinez

Daniil Miromanov- Zach Whitecloud

Logan Thompson/Adin Hill

Vegas Golden Knights Special Teams

PP1: Stone, Smith, Stephenson, Marchessault, Theodore

PP2: Roy, Karlsson, Carrier, Kessel, Miromanov

PK1: Karlsson, Smith, McNabb, Martinez

PK2: Stephenson, Stone, Hague, Whitecloud

IR/Scratches

Alex Pietrangelo/Jack Eichel, Brett Howden/Ben Hutton

Projected Bruins Line Combinations

Brad Marchand- Patrice Bergeron (c)- Jake DeBrusk

Pavel Zacha- David Krejci- David Pastrnak

Taylor Hall- Charlie Coyle- Trent Frederic

Nick Foligno- Tomas Nosek- AJ Greer

Hampus Lindholm- Charlie McAvoy

Matt Grzelcyk- Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort- Connor Clifton

Linus Ullmark/Jeremy Swayman

Bruins Special Teams

PP1- DeBrusk, Bergeron, Marchand, Pastrnak, McAvoy

PP2- Foligno, Zacha, Hall, Krejci, Lindholm

PK1- Coyle, Nosek, Forbort, Carlo

PK2- Bergeron, DeBrusk, Lindholm, McAvoy

IR/Scratches

Craig Smith/Jakub Zboril

How to Watch/Listen

4:00 p.m. on AT&T Sportsnet, ESPN+, and Fox Sports 98.9 FM Radio.