Bruins Rule Out Pavel Zacha vs Kings; Minten Moves to Top Line

Bruins Rule Out Pavel Zacha vs Kings; Minten Moves to Top Line


The Boston Bruins ruled out center Pavel Zacha for Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, the team announced. Zacha is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, head coach Marco Sturm confirmed.


Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins


The Decision on Zacha


Zacha was hurt late in Friday's 4-2 comeback win over the Anaheim Ducks. Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson hit him on his final shift, and Zacha sat out the last 8:59 of the game. He had logged 17:04 of ice time and recorded two assists before exiting, according to Boston Hockey Now. "Pavel Zacha will be out [tonight]," Sturm said in Los Angeles. "He will be day-to-day with an upper-body injury."


The injury comes at a costly moment. Zacha, 29, has two goals and three assists in eight games this season and had extended his point streak to four games Friday. His two assists in Anaheim both came on the man advantage, including the feed that set up Elias Lindholm's go-ahead goal at 8:18 of the third period. Boston's power play went 3-for-4 Friday after a 3-for-18 start to the season.


Last season Zacha set career highs with 30 goals and 65 points in 78 games. The Czech center was drafted sixth overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2015, traded to Boston for Erik Haula in July 2022, and signed a four-year, $19 million extension in January 2023. His contract expires after this season, and general manager Don Sweeney said Sept. 16 that the Bruins remain in contact with Zacha's representatives about his future, per the Boston Sports Journal. No timetable for his return exists beyond day-to-day.


Boston Bruins in action at Crypto.com Arena


Lineup Shuffle in Los Angeles


Sturm reshuffled his lines for the second game of a back-to-back. Fraser Minten steps into the first-line center spot between David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. "As of right now, it will be Minten starting with David and then we will see how it goes," Sturm said, per BostonBruins.com.


Matt Poitras slides up to center the second line with JJ Peterka and Marat Khusnutdinov, continuing the young center's growing role after his strong start. Sean Kuraly returns to the fourth line after missing the last five games. On defense, Nikita Zadorov is a healthy scratch, and Jonathan Aspirot draws in for his first game since Oct. 3. Jeremy Swayman starts in goal, carrying a 1.99 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage through six games, per BostonBruins.com.


What's Next


Boston (6-2-0) arrived in Los Angeles riding a four-game win streak, looking for its fifth straight win. The Kings (0-3-2) are still seeking their first victory of the season after a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Saturday's game is the third stop on Boston's four-game West Coast trip. The Bruins practice Monday in Dallas before facing the Stars on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Location: Boston, MA, USA

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