Matt Poitras a ‘possibility’ to make season debut with Bruins on Saturday

Obviously the Boston Bruins are still an evolving team and beyond the first line, there are any number of possibilities and combinations Coach Jim Montgomery can try.

And on Saturday, he may get one of the potentially more important pieces back. Montgomery would only say that Matt Poitras is “a possibility” for Saturday afternoon’s home game against the Los Angeles Kings if Poitras responds well to Friday’s full practice. But signs pointed toward the second-year center making his season debut.

In Friday’s practice, he centered a line with Trent Frederic and Justin Brazeau and, as is often the custom for a player returning from injury, led the stretch at the end of practice.

If indeed the 20-year-old Poitras is ready to return from his undisclosed injury, it would add a welcome injection of skill to the third line. It would also be the first real game Poitras has played since his promising rookie season ended after 33 games with a shoulder injury that required extensive surgery.

“It’s been a long time since I played a game that’s meaningful,” said Poitras. “The preseason games obviously mean something because you want to get ready for the season, but now it really means something.”

Poitras was a good candidate to at least start the season in the AHL, an option General Manager Don Sweeney voiced at the start of training camp.

But Poitras had a good camp until getting hurt and earned his place on the roster again.

“I look where he was in training camp when he was playing the games, just his puck possession game, his puck support both offensively and defensively (was good),” said Montgomery. “Where he has to grow is just defensively checking faster and that naturally has to become instantaneous, like his transition to offense is.”

Poitras may still look like a sapling amid the forest of redwoods at practice, but he did put a few pounds of muscle onto his 5-foot-11 frame, thanks to the long rehab and strength training in the offseason. He said he’s felt a bump from it.

“I just felt better and better as the preseason had gone on. Obviously being a little bit older and having those first (33) games under my belt, the confidence just grows and grows. I’m more comfortable holding onto pucks and trying to make plays,” said Poitras. “I feel stronger and faster. Obviously I’ll never be one of the strongest guys out there just because I’m not the biggest guy, but I feel comfortable going into the corner with just about anybody.”

Having guys like the 6-foot-5 Brazeau and the 6-foot-3 Frederic skating on your line doesn’t hurt the confidence, either.

“We’ve got a lot of big boys on this team. Especially if I’m playing with Freddy and Braz, those guys can get in the corners and hold onto pucks so for me, it’s just finding open ice. I’m not going to stay away from corners either, but it’s nice to have big boys out there,” said Poitras.

NOTES: Judging by the defense pairs in Friday’s practice, it appears Mason Lohrei will go back to a pairing with Andrew Peeke. … While the second line has shown energy at some points in the first two games – Brad Marchand has drawn three penalties – the second line of Marchand, Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie has not gotten on the board. Montgomery is still evaluating the unit.

“I think it’s been good. It’s two games so it’s a little too early to tell. The way they started the (Montreal) game set the tone for me and they drew a penalty right away,” said Montgomery. “So far I’m happy with it, but I think there’s a lot more there.”. … The Bruins placed defenseman Ian Mitchell on waivers.

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