Bruins Coach Plans to Roll Out Regular Lineup for Season Finale

Sturm says he has options if top line continues to struggle

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:07pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with the players and action broken down into abstract shapes and planes of color, capturing the energy and movement of the sport.Sturm's lineup experimentation aims to unlock the Bruins' top offensive talent ahead of the playoffs.Boston Today

Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm plans to play close to a regular lineup in Tuesday's regular-season finale against the New Jersey Devils. Sturm acknowledged that the team's top line of David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and Elias Lindholm has struggled to produce, being outscored 19-16 in 333 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this season. Sturm said he has met with the players to discuss what they need to fix, and he's willing to make changes if the results don't improve. One player who could factor into the equation is 19-year-old James Hagens, who impressed in his NHL debut on Sunday and will play again on Tuesday as Sturm evaluates his options for the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Bruins' top line has been a concern for Sturm, as the trio of Pastrnak, Geekie, and Lindholm has underperformed despite the individual talent. With the playoffs approaching, Sturm needs to find a way to get the top line firing on all cylinders to give the Bruins the best chance at a deep postseason run.

The details

In the 333 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time this season for the Geekie-Lindholm-Pastrnak line, the Bruins have actually been outscored 19-16, with opponents holding a 187-154 advantage in scoring chances. In contrast, the Bruins' second line of Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt has outscored opponents 42-22 in 583 minutes of 5-on-5 play. Sturm acknowledged that he may need to make changes if the top line doesn't improve, and he's willing to give 19-year-old James Hagens another look after his impressive NHL debut on Sunday.

  • On Sunday, the Geekie-Lindholm-Pastrnak line was on the ice for 12:07 of 5-on-5 play, with Columbus holding a 19-9 edge in shot attempts and outscoring Boston 2-0.
  • This season, the Geekie-Lindholm-Pastrnak line has been on the ice for 333 minutes of 5-on-5 play.
  • The Bruins' second line of Zacha, Arvidsson, and Mittelstadt has been on the ice for 583 minutes of 5-on-5 play this season.

The players

Marco Sturm

The head coach of the Boston Bruins who is evaluating his lineup options for the regular-season finale and the upcoming playoffs.

David Pastrnak

A star forward for the Boston Bruins who is part of the team's struggling top line.

Morgan Geekie

A forward for the Boston Bruins who is part of the team's struggling top line.

Elias Lindholm

A forward for the Boston Bruins who is part of the team's struggling top line.

James Hagens

A 19-year-old forward for the Boston Bruins who impressed in his NHL debut and will get another chance to play in the regular-season finale.

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What they’re saying

“I still have a few options. I met with them today to go through some stuff — stuff they have to continue to do and stuff they have to fix, and we'll see.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach, Boston Bruins

“But for me, it will be an easy switch. But we need those guys … We've got to trust them, and yeah, hopefully they can be the difference moving forward.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach, Boston Bruins

“He did excellent … He had some opportunities, and never was in trouble. So I was very pleased with this game.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach, Boston Bruins

What’s next

Sturm said he will give Hagens another chance to play in Tuesday's regular-season finale against the Devils, and then the team will decide on the playoff lineup.

The takeaway

The Bruins' top line has been a major concern for Sturm, as the trio of Pastrnak, Geekie, and Lindholm has struggled to produce despite their individual talent. Sturm is willing to make changes if the results don't improve, and the emergence of 19-year-old James Hagens could provide a potential solution or spark for the top line heading into the playoffs.