Derek Forbort was a scratch for the Bruins for Monday’s recreation towards the Kraken in Seattle nevertheless it wasn’t due to efficiency or damage. According to educate Jim Montgomery, the veteran defenseman missed a gathering.
It is the second time that this has occurred with the B’s this yr. Forward Jake DeBrusk was scratched for the October 21 recreation in Los Angeles for a similar infraction.
“That’s just our standard here with the Bruins, just like with JD earlier,” Montgomery informed experiences in Seattle.
It has not been an excellent yr for Forbort, who’ll flip 32 on March 4. While he’s been a stable shutdown, third-pair defenseman for the B’s for a lot of the first two years of his three-year contract, he has battled a groin damage this yr. Eventually, the group shut him down and put him in long-term injured reserved and he was out from December 3 to January 20.
While plus-8 on the season, he’s a minus-6 in his final 5 video games. The B’s penalty kill, one of many group’s strengths through the years and an enormous a part of Forbort’s portfolio, has fallen to tenth within the NHL. And whereas he’s actually not solely accountable, the absence of his typical shutdown capabilities has been a contributing issue to the B’s incapacity to shut out video games this season.
With Forbort out, veteran Kevin Shattenkirk drew again in on the third pairing with Parker Wotherspoon…
The B’s fourth line has been one of many group’s greatest models not too long ago. And so Montgomery selected to reward one among its members with a high-profile task. Speedster Anthony Richard, who on the age of 27 is getting his greatest probability to make an impression on the NHL degree, was bumped as much as play within the high six on a line with Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle.
Montgomery was on the lookout for extra soar and the flexibility to create extra turnovers with the transfer.
“We’ve tried a lot of players there and we know a couple of players that work,” mentioned Montgomery. “All three players that were on that fourth line with (Jesper) Boqvist and (Justin) Brazeau have all been playing really well and that’s why we sprinkled them around, to give them more energy to every line.”
DeBrusk, who skated on that line within the final recreation, was moved again to the road with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha whereas Jamees van Riemsdyk took Richard’s spot on the fourth line….
The excellent news for Bruins’ followers is that the wage cap can be going up subsequent season. The dangerous information? Some of the associated fee can be handed on to them.
The Bruins introduced on Monday a “blended price increase” of 9.5% for subsequent season for season ticket renewals.
The costs for loge seats are between $142 and $215 per recreation whereas balcony seats will run between $68 and $152.
Source: www.bostonherald.com