Brett Ritchie's injury forces change in top-6 ahead of matchup against Sabres

The Bruins are coming off a very well earned victory in New Jersey as they overcame the Devils by a score of 5-1. They will be looking to keep their momentum going tonight after losing 5 of their previous 6 games.

This evening, the Bruins host the Buffalo Sabres who have lost their two most recent games. With a W tonight, Boston would break a three-way tie for second place in the NHL behind the Washington Capitals.

With a victory in their previous match, coach Cassidy will most likely be making as few changes as possible to his line combinations. That being said, second line right winger, Brett Ritchie has suffered complications from a previous injury and will be sidelined tonight. 

That means that Charlie Coyle will replace him in the top-6, while Par Lindholm will make his way back into the lineup to pivot the 3rd offensive line in Coyle's stead.

Tuukka Rask should once again get the start in front of the Bruins' net tonight after a great performance on Tuesday. Jaroslav Halak will be his backup.

Here is Boston's projected lineup for tonight"s game against the Buffalo Sabres according to NHL.com correspondent Matt Kalman:

Forwards:

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Charlie Coyle

Anders Bjork - Par Lindholm - Danton Heinen

Joakim Nordstrom - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner

Defensemen:

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo

Urho Vaakanainen - Connor Clifton

Goaltenders:

Tuukka Rask

Jaroslav Halak

Steven Kampfer will be the only healthy scratch for the Bruins tonight, while the names of David Backes, Kevan Miller, John Moore, Torey Krug, Zach Senyshyn and Karson Kuhlman are on the injury reserve list along with Brett Ritchie's.

Sabres' frontman, Jack Eichel has 10 points in 5 career games at TD Garden and will most likely be looking to add to that total tonight. He will most definitely be a player to watch out for tonight as the Bruins' defense will mark him tightly.

It should be a great hockey game.