The Boston Bruins have brought up some reinforcements for their game against the Ottawa Senators tonight. Both Tommy Cross and Matt Grzelcyk have been recalled on emergency basis. Cross, the captain of the Providence Bruins took part in the morning skate and should be paired with John-Michael Liles tonight, replacing the injured Adam McQuaid.
Cross, 27, was drafted in the second round, 35th overall in 2007 but has played just three games at the NHL level in his entire career. Fighting his way up through almost every level of hockey in the United States, Cross completed four years at Boston College before originally being assigned to the ECHL. A leader everywhere he’s played, he wore a letter (A, then C) on each of his two national college championships, and has captained the P-Bruins for two years. He’ll try to lend that veteran presence to the team, even if it is a brand new stage for him in the NHL playoffs.
Grzelcyk on the other hand is just 23-years old, and just completed his first professional season. Another graduate of a Hockey-East school, Grzelcyk captained Boston University his final two seasons. The undersized defender has excellent puck-moving skills, and racked up 32 points in his rookie AHL season. While he is still young, his experience in NCAA playoff games and the World Juniors in 2014 should help any nerves he may have about making his NHL playoff debut (should he get into the lineup). In two games with Boston this season, he has been held pointless.