A bit greater than a 12 months in the past, Oskar Steen got here up from Providence and confirmed some actual promise that he might be a hard-nosed, middle-six winger who may present the requisite quantity of scoring. He confirmed sufficient to earn the 2016 sixth-round decide a two-year extension that got here with an affordable expectation that he had a very good shot at making the opening evening roster.
It didn’t occur. While Steen didn’t have a terrific camp, different gamers, specifically A.J. Greer and Jakob Lauko, popped. Steen was despatched again to Providence after clearing waivers earlier than the common season started. With the B’s placing collectively the perfect common season of their practically century-long historical past, there was not numerous want for a lot of call-ups and, till final Sunday, Steen needed to rebuild his recreation and his hopes again in Providence.
Finally, with the B’s trying to relaxation a few of their veteran gamers down the stretch earlier than the playoffs, Steen obtained the nod to play towards the Carolina Hurricanes final Sunday – and he reminded individuals why there such excessive hopes for him a 12 months in the past.
It was nothing spectacular. But in nearly 9 minutes of ice time, he was in on a few scoring possibilities, delivered a success and, in a recreation that pitted the 2 greatest groups within the league, he principally appeared like he belonged.
He performed 20 video games for Boston and had 2-4-6 totals final season. But contemplating the opponent and the playoff-type ambiance final Sunday, the Carolina recreation was arguably his greatest one as an NHLer.
“It was a good game for me. Coming back and playing was fun and I just tried to bring the good part of my game and help the team win,” stated Steen, who stays with the large membership however has been scratched towards Nashville and Columbus.
As is commonly the case, Steen had a troublesome time getting refocused after being despatched again to the minors in October, however his recreation finally got here round. His manufacturing was as much as a decent 14-17-31 output in 62 video games on the time of the call-up.
“I had high hopes of making the lineup after camp, but I didn’t. I went down to Providence and tried to play good. I felt like the last couple of months has been really good. I’m glad for the call-up and hopefully I can get a couple more games in,” stated Steen after an elective morning skate on the Garden on Thursday. “It was tough (going back to Providence), but I knew it was possible. I had it in the back of my head so I just had to get going again and get my game where I wanted it to be and hopefully get back here.”
Steen stated he felt extra snug together with his re-immersion into the NHL recreation than he did final season.
“I would say I feel more confidence this year. I feel like I know how everything works and how the game is up here compared to the AHL. It’s easier to just jump in this year. It’s only been one game but I’d like to get more games,” stated Steen. “I hope my game against Carolina helped to get more games.”
Ullmark on mark
As he hinted Wednesday, coach Jim Montgomery went again with Linus Ullmark on Thursday, giving Ullmark consecutive begins for the primary time since Feb. 18 and 20 because the B’s slowly gear up for the playoffs.
“We figured this little run here will get him three games in six days. That’s going to replicate a little bit of the playoffs and it’s also going to allow (Jeremy) Swayman to get some games on the back end of that,” stated Montgomery.
Montgomery leans closely on goalie coach Bob Essensa on his netminding selections.
“Significantly,” stated Montgomery. “I can’t put a number on it, all I know is he makes my life a lot easier. From day one, I told him … just tell me who should start. I’ve never over-trumped him all year, I’ll just ask him why so that I can learn from him. And he’s been spot-on.”
Lauko again in
Jakub Lauko, who appeared like he might have suffered a critical harm when he crashed into the boards in Carolina on Sunday, was again within the lineup for Thursday’s recreation towards Columbus whereas Greer sat. It was additionally Matt Grzelcyk’s flip to take a seat out within the protection rotation whereas Jakub Zboril went again in. ….
Former Boston mayor Marty Walsh held his first press convention as the brand new NHLPA government director on Thursday in Toronto and addressed a few of the sizzling button points.
As for the Pride Nights which have been shrouded in controversy since a number of gamers have opted to not put on multi-colored jersey for warmups that some groups have used, Walsh expressed his help for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood whereas additionally sustaining the league’s acknowledged place of respecting gamers’ particular person rights.
“It’s really important that the league and the locker rooms are inclusive and that we support all people’s rights to support the game,” Walsh informed reporters in Toronto.
He additionally voiced the gamers’ overwhelming need for best-on-best tournaments with the World Cup of Hockey and the Olympics.
Source: www.bostonherald.com