If you’re a glass half-full sort of particular person, there was some information you may cling to from Bruins’ observe on Sunday.
For the primary time since present process double hip surgical procedure, Brad Marchand was a full participation in observe, albeit a quick 20-minute session. Matt Grzelcyk, recovering from shoulder surgical procedure, continues to inch nearer to a return. Coach Jim Montgomery additionally struck an optimistic tone on Brandon Carlo (who appeared dazed after taking a giant Liam O’Brien hit), about whom he mentioned was “better today than we were expecting.” Montgomery additionally mentioned that Jake DeBrusk (suspected hand harm) must be out not more than 10 days.
But if you happen to’re a glass half-empty sort? None of these gamers are anticipated to be obtainable when the B’s play three video games in 4 nights, beginning Monday on the Garden towards defending the Presidents Trophy-winning Florida Panthers.
Carlo, who has a troubling historical past of concussions, was positioned on injured reserve, which suggests he received’t be eligible to play till not less than Saturday’s dwelling sport towards the Minnesota Wild.
In his place, the B’s recalled defenseman Dan Renouf from Providence. Unlike Carlo, Renouf is a left shot, however Montgomery mentioned he finest replicates Carlo’s sport.
“We felt in camp he was the most like a steady, stay-at-home defenseman that can defend very well, helps us break pucks out. Very similar to Brando, so that’s why he’s the guy,” mentioned Montgomery.
The B’s didn’t run via their traces and protection pairs within the brief observe, so it’s not clear who’ll be taking part in with whom. But except they’re in a position to get Anton Stralman’s visa expedited by Monday night, they are going to be all the way down to only one obtainable proper shot defenseman. That could be Connor Clifton, who performed 24:06 in Saturday’s win over Arizona with the lack of Carlo on the finish of the primary interval.
As for Marchand, his particpation served as a psychological well being day as a lot as huge step ahead in his restoration course of.
“I feel really good. Today was more of a mental victory than anything,” mentioned Marchand. “It’s been a long four months and it was going to be an easy practice for the guys, so I begged them enough to let me jump in there with them. It gets tiring and old being out there all by yourself. (Charlie McAvoy) out there but having a group of guys and being back with the team is a completely different feeling.”
The timing wants some work, he mentioned.
“A little bit off, but I actually felt better than I thought I would out there,” mentioned Marchand. “It was more that I think the hands need to catch up with having somebody pressuring you a little bit and trying to make decisions under timing instead of just skating around and nobody pressuring. But that will come back quick. It’s just second nature.”
While it was his first day again as a full participant, Marchand did make his presence felt, as he usually does.
“You could tell everyone else played (on Saturday). He was hunting pucks and hitting people,” mentioned Montgomery with a chuckle. “That first drill, there’s not supposed to be any contact and somehow he found a way to get contact in it.”
Marchand, together with his normal impish grin, downplayed the contact.
“Grizzy kept buzzing around me and I couldn’t take the puck from him, so I just figured I’d go through him,” mentioned Marchand…..
Jakub Zboril began extraordinarily nicely in coaching camp however has had some ups and downs since then. He had one of many latter on Saturday evening when, with the B’s up 3-1, he made an ill-advised backhand go close to his personal internet that finally wound up behind it.
But not like in previous years, he was allowed to atone for it, taking part in an everyday shift the remainder of the way in which and was on the ice for Derek Forbort’s game-winning objective.
What would have occurred prior to now?
“I would probably be sat down and be mentally somewhere,” mentioned Zboril with a smile. “Monty just told me that I tried to make a play and it’s going to happen. Sometimes it’s not going to work out. But he really liked how I handled it and kept going with the game.”
Said Montgomery after the sport: “Early in the year, there’s usually more goals scored because people are not into managing games. We just haven’t played enough games that matter. And teams come hard at you. Yeah, I think he’d like to have that decision back, but he did a lot of good things, too, in the offensive zone, real poised plays. So we want to keep growing on that while he learns. It’s a guy who didn’t play for a year. We’re happy with where he’s at.”…
The B’s welcome a Panthers crew that has a brand new edge to them within the particular person of Matthew Tkachuk. On Saturday, Tkachuk riled up the nice of us of Buffalo in a tough and tumble sport.
“I just play to how the game translates and trends,” mentioned Tkachuk, whose crew practiced at Warrior Ice Arena on Sunday. “I don’t try to stir any of that stuff. There a couple of plays I didn’t love at the start of the game, but it was a chippy game. They’re a young team that was trying to prove themselves and we’re a new team trying to establish ourselves in the league, too, so it makes for exciting divisional games. But it’s just how the game trends. I don’t like to start it. But if the game trends, I’ll stick up for my teammates.”
It shall be fascinating to see what sort of jam Tkachuk brings on Monday on the Garden, when he expects he’ll have a big contingent of prolonged household readily available. The B’s held a 2-01 benefit towards Florida final yr.
“You don’t go into it thinking ‘We’ve got to create a rivalry,’” mentioned Tkachuk, obtained for Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in a blockbuster. “I just think whenever you have good teams that play each other a lot…rivalries aren’t created unless you play in the playoffs. Regular season’s one thing. (Saturday) against Buffalo? That’s not a rivalry. It’s just an intense game. It’s not a rivalry. I think you create rivalries once you get in the playoffs.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com