After the Bruins' brutal loss, head coach Joe Sacco made some serious changes to the club's lines at practice. After being scratched last game, Oliver Wahlstrom skated on the first line at practice. Morgan Geekie also moved down the middle, while David Pastrnak played at right wing.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 14: Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) flips the puck up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 14, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Coyle will start the game on the third line on the wing with Matt Poitras, who returns at center and Trent Frederic. Vinni Lettieri will play his first game in Boston this season in Coyle’s regular spot with Elias Lindholm and Brad Marchand. Oliver Wahlstrom will sit out with Coyle available.

The other moves related to injury classifications, with franchise defenseman Charlie McAvoy surprisingly placed on the injured reserve list.

Brad Marchand was clearly not at his best in the Bruins’ 6-5 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He had trouble handling the puck most of the afternoon and was slow to close on Josh Norris before the Senator scored the tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation.

In a wildly entertaining and raucous game, the Bruins had their most emotional win of the season in their grasp only to cough up a two-goal lead late in the final 3:13 of regulation and lose in a shootoout.

The Boston Bruins are playing the Ottawa Senators this afternoon in a very important contest. The Bruins are only ahead of the Senators by one point for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference,

Year in and year out, the Boston Bruins have been a regular participant in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This year, though, has been one like no other.  While they’re currently in a playoff position, making the postseason is by no means a guarantee for the B’s this season.

Matt Poitras looked more like a player who captured the imagination of fans last year than the one who struggled through 14 games this season.

A poor start doomed the Lightning, as they allowed four unanswered goals in the opening 26:05. Although they pushed hard in the final 14 minutes of the second period and reduced the deficit to two, they were unable to pull themselves out of the hole they dug.

Being back in the NHL tends to make days sunny again.

The Bruins called up Matt Poitras from Providence on Tuesday, but the team also placed Charlie McAvoy on injured reserve.