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Bruins Set Opening-Night Roster With Pastrnak as Captain

Suspensions and injuries have forced Boston to reshuffle its lineup ahead of the season opener.

Overview

  • The Bruins released a 23-man opening-night roster for Tuesday, Sept. 29, at TD Garden with the game to be televised on ESPN.
  • David Pastrnak will make his debut as team captain and is expected to skate on the top line alongside Elias Lindholm and new acquisition JJ Peterka.
  • Charlie McAvoy begins a six-game suspension for a playoff slashing incident, which moves Will Borgen into a top-pair role and leaves Boston carrying eight defensemen to start the season.
  • Forward Matt Poitras was placed on the injured non‑roster list with a lower-body injury and the team provided no timetable for his return.
  • Jeremy Swayman is the expected starter with Michael DiPietro backing up, a pairing the Bruins will rely on while younger players such as James Hagens and Fraser Minten are asked to grow quickly in a compressed preseason environment.