Boston Bruins vs Ottawa Senators projected lineup for November 13, 2025

The Boston Bruins head into Canadian Tire Centre on November 13, 2025, looking to build on their recent momentum against an Ottawa Senators squad that has exceeded early-season expectations. With both Atlantic Division rivals dealing with significant injury concerns, Wednesday’s matchup will test the depth of each organization. The 7:00 PM ET puck drop promises an intriguing battle between two teams trending in opposite directions as the calendar flips toward mid-November.

After defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Tuesday, the Bruins (11-7-0) will roll with an identical lineup, while the Senators (8-5-4) must adjust to life without star defenseman Thomas Chabot, who suffered an upper-body injury against Dallas. Both clubs have shown resilience in managing their respective injury situations, making this contest a true test of organizational depth. The Bruins vs. Senators: November 6, 2025 Game Preview highlighted similar challenges that have only intensified over the past week.

Boston Bruins projected lineup for November 13, 2025

The Bruins’ forward group features some intriguing line combinations designed to maximize offensive production while managing the absences of key centers. Morgan Geekie will anchor the top line between Marat Khusnutdinov and superstar right-winger David Pastrnak, who enters the game riding high after a two-goal performance in his previous outing. This trio represents Boston’s best hope for generating consistent offense against a Senators defensive corps that will be missing its top defenseman.

On the second line, Alex Steeves slots in alongside Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson in a unit that has shown chemistry in recent games. Steeves was recalled from the AHL on November 8 when Elias Lindholm was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury sustained in a collision against Buffalo on October 30. The former Toronto prospect has seized his opportunity, bringing energy and a shoot-first mentality that complements Zacha’s playmaking abilities.

The third line features a grinder’s paradise with Tanner Jeannot centering Fraser Minten and Mark Kastelic. This checking line will likely draw the assignment of neutralizing Ottawa’s top players, particularly Tim Stutzle, who leads the Senators’ offense in the absence of captain Brady Tkachuk. The fourth line of Jeffrey Viel, Sean Kuraly, and Michael Eyssimont provides additional physicality and penalty-killing prowess.

Boston Bruins forward lines:

• Morgan Geekie — Marat Khusnutdinov — David Pastrnak
• Alex Steeves — Pavel Zacha — Viktor Arvidsson
• Tanner Jeannot — Fraser Minten — Mark Kastelic
• Jeffrey Viel — Sean Kuraly — Michael Eyssimont

On the blue line, Nikita Zadorov will pair with Charlie McAvoy on the top defensive pairing, a duo that has provided both offensive contributions and shutdown capabilities. McAvoy leads all Bruins defensemen with six points through 18 games and remains the quarterback of Boston’s power play. The second pairing features Hampus Lindholm alongside Andrew Peeke, while Mason Lohrei returns to the lineup paired with Henri Jokiharju on the third defensive pairing.

Boston Bruins defensive pairings:

• Nikita Zadorov — Charlie McAvoy
• Hampus Lindholm — Andrew Peeke
• Mason Lohrei — Henri Jokiharju

Between the pipes, Joonas Korpisalo gets the starting nod after Jeremy Swayman backstopped the victory against Toronto. Korpisalo has been the subject of scrutiny early in his Bruins tenure but will look to build consistency against a Senators offense that has continued producing despite missing their captain for the past month.

Ottawa Senators projected lineup for November 13, 2025

The Senators face a significant challenge with Thomas Chabot’s upper-body injury forcing head coach Travis Green to shuffle his defensive pairs. The veteran blueliner left Tuesday’s overtime loss to Dallas and will not have a timeline for return according to general manager Steve Staios. This absence comes at an inopportune time as Ottawa has won four of its last six games while navigating life without Brady Tkachuk, who underwent thumb surgery on October 18 and has been sidelined for nearly a month.

Up front, David Perron will slot onto the top line with Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, a combination that has carried the Senators’ offensive load throughout Tkachuk’s absence. Stutzle has blossomed into a legitimate star, while Batherson provides the shooting threat that makes this line dangerous on every shift. The German center’s playmaking ability will be crucial against a Bruins team that has struggled defensively at times this season.

The second line features Ridly Greig between Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund in what should be a high-energy unit. Greig’s agitating style combined with Cozens’ two-way abilities creates matchup problems for opposing defenses. The third line of Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto, and Claude Giroux brings veteran savvy, with Giroux recently signing a four-year extension that keeps the future Hall of Famer in Ottawa through his late 30s. The fourth line sees Kurtis MacDermid centering Lars Eller and Nick Cousins after Olle Lycksell’s undisclosed injury kept him out of practice.

Ottawa Senators forward lines:

• David Perron — Tim Stutzle — Drake Batherson
• Ridly Greig — Dylan Cozens — Fabian Zetterlund
• Michael Amadio — Shane Pinto — Claude Giroux
• Kurtis MacDermid — Lars Eller — Nick Cousins

On defense, Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub will carry additional responsibilities as the top pairing with Chabot sidelined. Sanderson, the seventh overall pick in 2020, has developed into one of the league’s most promising young defensemen and will need to elevate his game against Pastrnak and company. Tyler Kleven partners with Jordan Spence on the second pairing, while Nikolas Matinpalo draws into the lineup alongside Nick Jensen after being a healthy scratch for three consecutive games.

Ottawa Senators defensive pairings:

• Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
• Tyler Kleven — Jordan Spence
• Nikolas Matinpalo — Nick Jensen

In net, Leevi Merilainen receives his second consecutive start after being recalled from Belleville of the AHL. The 22-year-old Finnish netminder replaced Hunter Shepard, who was reassigned to the minors following Saturday’s overtime loss to Montreal. Merilainen faces a significant test against a Bruins offense led by Pastrnak, though the young goaltender has shown flashes of brilliance in limited NHL action. Linus Ullmark, who spent last season with Boston before being traded to Ottawa, will serve as the backup in an ironic twist.

Key injuries affecting the Boston Bruins vs Ottawa Senators projected lineup November 13, 2025

The injury report reads like a who’s who of impact players for both franchises. Boston’s most significant absence remains Elias Lindholm, who was placed on injured reserve on November 8 and is expected to miss at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury. The veteran center suffered the injury in a collision with Buffalo on October 30, depriving the Bruins of a key two-way presence down the middle. According to the Times Union, Lindholm’s absence has forced Boston to get creative with its center ice depth.

Casey Mittelstadt joins Lindholm on the shelf with a lower-body injury, while Johnny Beecher hasn’t played since November 6 due to an upper-body issue. Though Beecher participated in morning skate, he won’t dress for Wednesday’s contest. Jordan Harris remains Boston’s longest-term casualty, as the defenseman underwent surgery to repair a right ankle fracture and is expected to miss at least two months. Harris had appeared in just five games, registering one goal and one assist before the injury ended his season prematurely.

For Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk’s thumb surgery has sidelined the captain since mid-October, with the initial timeline of 6-8 weeks meaning a potential return before American Thanksgiving. The Senators have posted an impressive 7-4-3 record without their emotional leader, a testament to the team’s depth and coaching. Thomas Chabot’s upper-body injury represents the most immediate concern, as the veteran defenseman had logged heavy minutes before exiting Tuesday’s game against Dallas. Olle Lycksell also remains out with an undisclosed injury, having not been spotted on the ice since Saturday’s practice.

The silver lining for both teams has been their ability to maintain competitive records despite the absences. Boston’s 11-7-0 mark keeps them firmly in the Atlantic Division playoff picture, while Ottawa’s 8-5-4 record has exceeded most preseason expectations. The NHL.com preview noted that both teams have relied on depth scoring and improved defensive structure to weather their injury storms.

Goaltending battle in the Boston Bruins vs Ottawa Senators projected lineup November 13, 2025

The crease matchup presents an intriguing storyline as Joonas Korpisalo faces his former organization while Leevi Merilainen attempts to seize an NHL opportunity. Korpisalo signed a five-year, $20 million contract with Boston in the 2023 offseason after helping Ottawa to the playoffs, but his tenure with the Bruins has been marked by inconsistency. The Finnish veteran carries a respectable goals-against average but has struggled with timely saves in critical moments.

Merilainen’s recall from Belleville marks the latest chapter in Ottawa’s ongoing search for goaltending stability beyond Linus Ullmark. The 22-year-old Finnish prospect has dominated at the AHL level but faces a significant step up in competition against a Bruins team featuring elite finishing talent. His positioning and rebound control will be tested by Pastrnak, who has a knack for capitalizing on secondary chances around the crease.

The Ullmark factor adds narrative intrigue to this matchup. Last season’s Vezina Trophy winner spent the entire 2024-25 campaign with Boston before being dealt to Ottawa in a blockbuster summer trade. While he won’t see action on the bench, his presence serves as a reminder of the goaltending decisions that have shaped both franchises. The Bruins opted to build around Jeremy Swayman, signing him to a massive extension, while the Senators acquired Ullmark to provide the veteran stability they’ve lacked for years.

Special teams could swing this goaltending duel significantly. Both power plays have shown flashes of competence without being dominant, while penalty killing has been inconsistent. Korpisalo’s ability to track the puck through screens will be crucial against Ottawa’s power play, which likes to deploy Stutzle as a roaming threat. Conversely, Merilainen must be sharp on Boston’s man advantage, where McAvoy’s point shots and Pastrnak’s one-timer represent constant threats.

What to watch in the Boston Bruins vs Ottawa Senators projected lineup November 13, 2025 matchup

David Pastrnak enters this contest as the focal point of Boston’s offensive attack, and his two-goal performance against the Islanders earlier in the week demonstrated his ability to take over games. The Czech sniper leads the Bruins with 18 points through 18 games, and Ottawa’s defensive corps—already thin without Chabot—will struggle to contain his combination of speed and shooting accuracy. Expect Travis Green to deploy Jake Sanderson against Pastrnak whenever possible, creating a fascinating battle between emerging star defender and established elite scorer.

Tim Stutzle’s development into a legitimate number-one center has been one of the season’s pleasant surprises for Ottawa. The German pivot has shouldered increased responsibility during Tkachuk’s absence, logging heavy minutes in all situations. His ability to drive play at five-on-five while quarterbacking the power play makes him indispensable to Ottawa’s success. The matchup between Stutzle’s line and Boston’s checking group of Jeannot, Minten, and Kastelic could determine which team controls territorial play.

Special teams efficiency often decides tight Atlantic Division battles, and this game should be no exception. Boston has scored on 22.5% of its power-play opportunities this season, ranking in the league’s middle tier, while Ottawa sits slightly below at 19.4%. The penalty kill tells a similar story, with both teams hovering around league average. These marginal differences could prove decisive if either team takes multiple penalties, particularly given the offensive firepower available on both rosters.

The defensive zone coverage will be tested thoroughly on both sides. Boston’s system under head coach Jim Montgomery emphasizes aggressive gap control and quick transitions, but the absences of Lindholm and Mittelstadt have complicated the Bruins’ defensive structure. Ottawa’s collapsing box formation without Chabot directing traffic creates opportunities for skilled passers like Zacha and Arvidsson to find seams. Whichever defense can limit grade-A scoring chances will give their goaltender the best opportunity for success.

This Atlantic Division clash represents more than just two points in the standings. For Boston, continuing their winning ways after the emotional Toronto victory would signal genuine progress in finding their identity without key pieces. The Bruins need to prove they can win consistently on the road, where they’ve been inconsistent through the season’s first six weeks. Maintaining defensive structure while generating offense from their depth lines will be essential against an Ottawa team that has shown remarkable resilience.

The Senators, meanwhile, have an opportunity to make a statement about their playoff credentials. Winning without both Tkachuk and Chabot would demonstrate the organizational depth that many analysts questioned during the preseason. A victory over Boston would push Ottawa’s record above .500 in regulation wins, a significant milestone for a franchise that has spent recent years in rebuilding mode. The emergence of young players like Sanderson and Greig, combined with the steady veteran presence of Giroux and Perron, suggests this team has legitimate staying power in the competitive Atlantic Division race. As we saw in the Bruins vs Senators October 27, 2025 Preview, these divisional matchups carry extra weight as the season progresses.