Marian Hossa was a surprise last-minute scratch from Game 3. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Bruins scored a 2-0 win at home on Monday. Game 5 is set for Chicago at the United Center on Saturday.
1. It appears Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be back on Chicago's top line.
They saw some shifts together in Game 3 after the Blackhawks fell behind 2-0 in the second period. But after being split up for the Stanley Cup final, it appears Toews and Kane will be back together along with left wing Bryan Bickell.
This was a combination that played so well in Games 4 and 5 against the Los Angeles Kings in the West final. Kane and Bicknell scored in Game 4. Kane checked in with a hat trick in the series finale.
"Every series is different," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Every matchup is different. They've had some looks together over the course of the games. We look at production. Sometimes maybe we're looking to ignite. One line can get going. We don't really care who scores goals. If they can get hot, get on the board offensively, that's what we look for.
"But they're certainly capable of it. They exited the last series on a high note. Getting back together here, hopefully they can continue on."
2. Will injured Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa return to action?
Hossa, a surprise last-minute scratch for Game 3 with an upper-body injury, is expected to return on Wednesday even though he did not participate in the Blackhawks' morning skate. Jamal Mayers took Hossa's spot on the second line alongside centre Michal Handzus and Patrick Sharp in the morning skate.
Quenneville said Hossa is fine and is expected to play on Wednesday. He didn't like criticism about Hossa's toughness.
"If he could play, he would play, so we don't need to discuss that," Quenneville said. "We know how competitive he is and what he means to our team."
3. Is Boston simply playing too well for Chicago?
There isn't much wrong with the Bruins' game right now. They have gone 11-2 in their last 13 games and outscored their opponents 40-21 during this stretch. Their penalty-killing unit has killed off 27 in a row, dating back to their second-round finale against the New York Rangers. Goalkeeper Tuukka Rask has three shutouts in his last seven outings.
The Bruins also have won seven in a row at home and haven't surrendered a goal in their last 186:28 of play at TD Garden.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks haven't had an answer for the Bruins' third line of Daniel Paille, Chris Kelly and Tyler Seguin since they were put together halfway through Game 2. Blackhawks centre David Bolland particularly had a rough Game 3. He was stripped of the puck on Paille's game-winner, took two penalties and had a horrible night in the face-off circle.
Judging by some of the line combinations employed by Quenneville at the morning skate, Bolland has been demoted to the fourth line. Andrew Shaw skated between left wing Brandon Saad and speedy right wing Viktor Stalberg on the third line.
Projected lineup for Chicago
Forwards
Bryan Bickell -- Jonathan Toews -- Patrick Kane
Patrick Sharp -- Michal Handzus -- Marian Hossa
Brandon Saad -- Andrew Shaw -- Viktor Stalberg
Marcus Kruger -- David Bolland -- Michael Frolik
Defence
Duncan Keith -- Brent Seabrook
Johnny Oduya -- Nicklas Hjalmarsson
Nick Leddy -- Michal Rozsival
Goaltender
Corey Crawford
Projected lineup for Boston
Forwards
Milan Lucic -- David Krejci -- Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jaromir Jagr
Daniel Paille -- Chris Kelly -- Tyler Seguin
Kaspars Daugavins -- Rich Peverley -- Shawn Thornton
Defence
Zdeno Chara -- Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference -- Johnny Boychuk
Torey Krug -- Adam McQuaid
Goaltender
Tuukka Rask
Follow Tim Wharnsby on Twitter @WharnsbyCBC.
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
