Troiani Rink Report

The Boston Bruins wrap up their three-game homestand with a matinee clash with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday at TD Garden.

The Black and Gold have their last two games against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres are are winners in three of the last four contests.

This is the first meeting between the Bruins and Hurricanes in the 2025-25 season and the 217th overall. Boston has a 114-79-16-7 overall record against Carolina, with a 716-633 scoring edge in those games. The Bruins last defeated the Hurricanes 5-1 last season in Boston.

Morgan Geekie extended his goal streak to six games when he lit the lamp in Thursday’s win over the Sabres. He leads all Boston skaters with nine tallies in 13 games this season. 

The Bruins will be without their top-line center against the Hurricanes, and for several more games going forward.

Head coach Marco Sturm confirmed on Friday that center Elias Lindholm is “going to be out for at least a few weeks” after exiting Thursday’s overtime win over the Sabres with a lower-body injury.

Overtime hero Marat Khusnutdinov practiced on the top line with Geekie and David Pastrnak and is slated to take Lindholm’s spot to begin the matchup on Causeway. Johnny Beecher is expected to make his return to the lineup with Lindholm shelved.

Joonas Kopirsalo has won his last two starts for Boston, stopping 70 of the 75 shots he faced, and is expected to once again get the nod.

Across the sheet, the Hurricanes are coming off a 6-2 win over the Islanders, and hold third place in the Metropolitan division with a 7-3-0 record.

Seth Jarvis had to be helped off the ice during Thursday’s third period following a shot block and although there was immediate concern post-game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour  said that he could be an option to play agaisnt Boston.

In the crease, former Bruins prospect Brandon Bussi earned his third win Thursday for Carolina, making 26 saves against the Islanders. Meanwhile, Frederik Andersen lost a 6-3 decision against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday.

Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Here are the projected lines and defensive pairings for both clubs:

BOSTON BRUINS (6-7-0)
Morgan Geekie — Marat Khusnutdinov — David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt — Pavel Zacha — Viktor Arvidsson
Tanner Jeannot — Fraser Minten — Michael Eyssimont
Johnny Beecher — Sean Kuraly — Mark Kastelic

Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm — Andrew Peeke
Jonathan Aspirot — Henri Jokiharju

Joonas Korpisalo

CAROLINA HURRICANES (7-3-0)
Nikolaj Ehlers — Sebastian Aho — Seth Jarvis
Taylor Hall — Logan Stankoven — Jackson Blake
Jordan Martinook — Jordan Staal — Andrei Svechnikov
Mark Jankowski — Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Bradly Nadeau

Alexander Nikishin — Sean Walker
Jalen Chatfield — Joel Nystrom
Mike Reilly — Charles-Alexis Legault

Brandon Bussi

More Bruins: Off the Post: Bruins’ Marat Khusnutdinov Plays Hero In Overtime Thriller Vs. Sabres