Bruins' Ryan Spooner: Gets first-line duty

Spooner is slated to center the team's top line for Opening Night against Nashville on Thursday.

With Boston's bona fide No. 1 centerman Patrice Bergeron out with a lower-body injury, the mercurial Spooner will assume his role for at least the beginning of Monday's tilt. It will be interesting to see how Brad Marchand responds to playing with Spooner, who, unlike Marchand's long-time running mate Bergeron, has often been criticized for playing on the perimeter and not being strong enough on the puck. That said, Spooner is a great skater and passer, so he could flourish playing alongside more talented players than he is used to.