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The biggest change was leading scorer David Pastrnak sliding to right wing on the traditional third line with 21-year-old rookie Fraser Minten in the middle and Marat Khusnutdinov on the left.
Labeling lines with numbers is not something Sturm thinks about when trying to find the right combinations. The third line is more often than not a hybrid checking line, but Sturm is not locked into that way of thinking.
“It’s not a big deal. Even for [Pastrnak], if you ask him, it’s really not,” said Sturm. “Again, I am old school a little bit, I’m going to have a checking line that way, but you can’t go on first, second, third, because my second line might be the checking line as a third line. So, I think that’s the difference.”
Sturm first put the trio together in St. Louis when Pastrnak returned after a five-game absence because of a lower-body injury. Pastrnak collected three assists in that win and picked up two goals and two assists two nights later in Winnipeg.
Sturm likes the speed the line can flash and his message to Minten, who has played with myriad wingers this season, was to keep on plugging.
“It’s a tricky one. He’s a young kid. As I told him today, nothing really changes. So hopefully not going to change just because David is on his side,” said Sturm. “End of the day, I just want him to play the same way he’s been playing all year long. He’s been outstanding, couldn’t ask for anything more. And yeah, no, we just want to push that line, too, and David to play good both with the puck and without the puck.”
Coach Marco Sturm is hoping Elias Lindholm (right) can spark the revamped first line, and Pavel Zacha can do likewise on the second.JOHN WOODS/Associated Press
The new look “top” line had Elias Lindholm in the middle and Morgan Geekie swapping from left wing to right wing and Alex Steeves taking the left side.
Line changes don’t always sit well with players, but Lindholm was on board.
“I think, obviously, we need to score more goals and spread it out a little bit, obviously [that] can help,” said Lindholm. “So yeah, we tried these combinations before, so it worked. Hopefully just a little wake-up call for everyone.”
Steeves has proven to be a player that can plug and thrive in multiple spots.
“We can’t expect Stevie to be a No. 1 and the savior, too. I want him to be himself,” said Sturm. “Everyone works on this team, but I want him to finish his shifts, outwork his opponent, and help Lindholm and Morgan to get pucks back. That’s what I’m asking for. I’m not asking for goals or anything like that. I’m asking for a solid effort the way he can play. And that goes for everyone [up and] down the line up, too.”
The Bruins’ second line (Pavel Zacha centering Casey Mittelstadt on the left and Viktor Arvidsson on the right) and fourth line (Sean Kuraly between Mikey Eyssimont on the left and Mark Kastelic on the right) remained intact.
Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot missed seven games with an upper-body injury.Adam Hunger/Associated Press
Jonathan Aspirot returned to the lineup after the defenseman missed seven games with an upper-body injury.
Aspirot, who skated with Hampus Lindholm, was playing a solid and steady game when he was hurt in Winnipeg. The Bruins went 1-5-1 in his absence.
He is well versed in the area having played the last two seasons with the Calgary Wranglers. He collected 11 goals and 62 points in 113 games with the Flames’ AHL affiliate.
Aspirot’s night ended on a down note. He was whistled for a high stick at the end of regulation, setting the stage for Connor Zary’s power-play winner.
Checking in with former Bruins
From the ex-files: Linus Ullmark, who won a Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie, has taken a leave of absence from the Senators for personal reasons.
Ottawa general manager Steve Staios did not explain why Ullmark was leaving but said he had the “full support of our organization during this time.”
Ullmark, 32, has 14 wins and a 2.95 goals against average this season.
Jake DeBrusk was benched for Monday night’s game against the Kraken as Canucks coach Adam Foote was looking for a re-set from the speedy winger. He has 9 goals and 17 points in 37 games.
“It sucks. It’s embarrassing,” DeBrusk told reporters.
Justin Brazeau scored his first career hat trick Sunday night in Pittsburgh’s romp over the Blackhawks. Brazeau has 11 goals and 18 points in 23 games.
Johnny Beecher, who didn’t register a shot in 9:06 on ice Monday, has just a pair of assists in the 16 games he’s played with the Flames since being claimed on waivers.
Tanner Jeannot, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Boston’s loss to the Canadiens a week ago, did not skate but did some off-ice work . . . This five-game road trip continues New Year’s Eve in Edmonton followed by stops in Vancouver (Saturday) and Seattle (Tuesday) . . . Former Flames forward Guy Chouinard, who collected 529 points in Atlanta and Calgary, including the first goal for the franchise when it relocated to Calgary, passed away Sunday. He was 69.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.