Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei will be playing his first game since Oct. 27.
Lohrei has been a healthy scratch for the past five games, but he will return to the lineup on Saturday when the Bruins go on the road to play the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bruins star defenseman Charlie McAvoy will be out of the lineup as he didn’t travel with the team due to personal reasons. In McAvoy’s absence, Lohrei will draw back into the lineup, and Bruins head coach Marco Sturm sent a clear message to the defenseman.
“This is his opportunity now to come in. It took a little bit longer than expected, but for him – he knows – I just want him to defend well and play simple,” Sturm said pregame on Saturday about Lohrei. “That is all he has to worry about. You have to remember, he is still very young. He is kind of processing the whole thing as well. For us and for me as a coach, got to help him and got to guide him.”
Lohrei has one goal and five assists for 6 points in 11 games this season. He’ll be on the third pairing alongside Jonathan Aspirot.
Story continues below advertisement
Although the Bruins will be without McAvoy and forward Casey Mittelstadt, Sturm still has confidence in his team.
“It is going to be a challenging night for us, especially with a few guys out,” Sturm said. “But I am very confident, the way we play right now, that we can hang in there. It is definitely going to be a big one, for sure.”
