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

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

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.

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.

This was the Bruins' first game since president Cam Neely revealed earlier this week that the club could retool its roster. This loss only strengthens the argument that the Bruins should make roster changes. The Bruins continue to struggle with consistency and closing out games, and they are not showing many signs of changing that.

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,

But they could also get worse between now and the 2025 NHL trade deadline, and that’s something that Bruins president Cam Neely addressed Wednesday night. “I think, right now, we’ve gotta look at two paths: one that we’re buying and one that we may just be retooling a little bit,

Is it time for major changes? CEO Charlie Jacobs made one thing clear Wednesday: He has faith in Sweeney and Neely to make the right moves.

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.

Boston Bruins Matt Poitras has been given a final stint in the NHL and he has to prove himself to the organization