Bruce Cassidy still trying to fit the pieces together - The Boston Globe
Bruce Cassidy is the Bruins’ puzzlemaster. He has pieces scattered around the ice and more in the locker room, some of them key pieces that connect to many others, and some of them just the common edge pieces. The coach’s job is to fit them together and create a recognizable picture.
With the team on a two-game win streak, he wants to assemble an effective lineup quickly to keep that little roll going. At practice Tuesday at Warrior Ice Arena, three players took to the ice wearing red noncontact jerseys, meaning Cassidy can’t work them into the puzzle Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.
After practice, Cassidy turned over his puzzle pieces to get a closer look.
Brad Marchand (undisclosed injury), who has missed five of the last seven games, skated, but is out Wednesday.
Torey Krug (upper-body injury) skated but won’t travel with the team to New Jersey.
David Backes skated but is still recovering from his colon surgery.
Anders Bjork (undisclosed) did not skate, and Cassidy said he’ll be out until next week.
Ryan Spooner (groin pull) skated through his first full practice since Oct. 15 and Cassidy said he expected to have a further conversation with the 25-year-old forward about his ability to play against New Jersey.