Islanders: Updates on Bruins availability for Game 5

Just like the New York Islanders, the Boston Bruins are also dealing with some health issues. For the Isles, captain Anders Lee remains out since his injury in the regular season (he’s back on the ice now). Both Oliver Wahlstrom and Michael Dal Colle are still day-to-day.

On the Bruins side, the injury lists seem to be growing. At today’s morning skate prior to Game 5, a few key Bruins were missing on the ice. Notably, goalie Tuukka Rask was not on the ice for the Bruins.

Update on Boston Bruins ahead of Game 5 vs. New York Islanders

At morning skate today a few players were missing for the Bruins. Defenseman Brandon Carlo wasn’t part of Cassidy’s d-core taking reps. It was later confirmed that Carlo would not skate in Game 5.

This would be the second game that Carlo would miss after hitting his head on the glass following a Cal Clutterbuck check in Game 3.

Carlo is the Bruins top shutdown defenseman. When he was healthy for the Bruis he literally shadowed Mathew Barzal around the ice. Carlo had 17:43 of 5on5 ice time against Barzal, the most against any Islanders forward.

Also missing from the ice was goaltender Tuukka Rask. Rookie netminder Jeremy Swayman and veteran Jaroslav Halak were taking shots in today’s morning skate for the Bruins. Could this be a sign that Rask might not suit up in Game 5? Maybe.

Not having Rask out there is certainly a sign that he may not be 100%. Which isn’t necessarily a surprise. Earlier in the series Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy indicated that Rask has been dealing with nagging injuries all year.

(Note: Bruins said he did skate.)

The fact that he was missing from practice today could mean that he might not play tonight, but it could also mean that the Bruins are allowing him to rest up for this vital game at home.

Other Updates

Kevan Miller still isn’t taking part of line rushes but was skating. Miller has been great for a relatively young Boston defensive core. It hasn’t been made clear if Miller will play, but the fact that he isn’t skating with the team ahead of puck drop seems to mean he won’t play.

One lineup change we know about is that Karson Kuhlman will step into the Bruins third line for Jake DeBrusk. The 25-year-old winger has been up and down between the NHL and AHL over the last three years. He’s scored two goals in 20 games this year.

Bruins lineup at morning skate today:

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Hall-Krejci-Smith
Ritchie-Coyle-Kuhlman
Kuraly-Lazar-Wagner

Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Reilly-Lauzon
Tinordi-Clifton

Swayman
Halak