Oskar Sundqvist's hit on Mass. native Matt Grzelcyk may have opened the door for another local kid.
Sundqvist is suspended for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after the St. Louis Blues forward rammed Grzelcyk's head into the boards with an elbow in Game 2.
Blues head coach Craig Berube suggested Friday that Zach Sanford could replace Sundqvist on the fourth line Saturday night against the Boston Bruins.
Craig Berube said today was just a maintenance day for Vladimir Tarasenko. He said he hasn't made a decision yet on who replaces Oskar Sundqvist but Zach Sanford is expecting to play. Vince Dunn and Robert Thomas could be available tomorrow but Berube isn't sure yet. — Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 31, 2019
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That'd be quite the opportunity for the 24-year-old forward, who was born in Salem, Mass., grew up in Manchester, N.H., and followed the Bruins religiously in his youth.
"I watched every game growing up," Sanford said Friday in St. Louis, via CBS Boston. "I was always a big Glenn Murray fan. Kind of random but a big shot and [a solid winger]."
Sanford attended Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H., then played two years at Boston College before the Washington Capitals took him in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
He hasn't appeared in a game for the Blues since the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but if he takes the ice in Game 3, he'll join former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Corey Schneider as the only two Mass. natives to face the Bruins in the Cup Final.
When he draws into the Blues lineup for Game 3, Zach Sanford will become only the second Massachusetts native to face the Bruins in the Cup final (Cory Schneider). — Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) May 31, 2019
"It's pretty weird, obviously," Sanford said. "I mean, I saw those my whole life growing up and going to games, then being on the other side of it."
It's safe to say Sanford has thrown his childhood allegiances out the window, though.
"I'm not really a Bruins fan anymore," he added. "It's time for us to get our own banners here."
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