SUNRISE, Fla.–Hampus Lindholm has been taking part in simply positive on this first spherical playoff sequence. He and Brandon Carlo have mixed to be a strong shut-down pairing towards the Florida Panthers.
But once you’ve had a season that’s been worthy of Norris Trophy consideration like Lindholm had, one expects to see slightly extra oomph within the offensive zone. While he was plus-2 going into Friday’s Game 6 – not a foul quantity contemplating how reliant the B’s have been on their energy play – he had not hit the scoresheet in any of the primary 5 video games. He had 10-43-53 totals in 80 common season video games.
Coach Jim Montgomery believes the offense will come if he retains doing what he’s been doing within the defensive zone.
“This is true for all of our defensemen, but especially Lindholm. His offense always comes from great defense or moving the puck and joining,” mentioned Montgomery. “You look at the goals he scored or the great passes throughout the year, it’s come from that. We just want him to keep focusing on shutting people down, which he’s done a great job of, and we know the offense is going to come. It’s kind of like (David Pastrnak). Great players, they figure it out. It’s just a matter of time. It’s a small sample size right now.”
While Lindholm had performed a go-go position a lot of the common season, particularly early on when Charlie McAvoy was out, his focus has shifted within the post-season.
“I want to be two-way guy every game,” mentioned Lindholm after the morning skate at Florida Live Arena. “But obviously, we’ve been starting a little more in the D-zone with faceoffs and having that role. But I’m here, I want to win hockey games. This time of year, that’s all I care about. I’ll embrace whatever role they want to give me.”
Lindholm mentioned his offense will come right down to recognition of the probabilities that do current themselves.
“I just think when you have opportunities, you have to get up there and take advantage of it. You never want to force anything,” he mentioned. “They play pretty aggressive but any time you get the chance to get up there and beat the rush and be patient, it’s going to be open.”
If there’s one factor that the Panthers have finished that has been troubling for the B’s is their means to trigger turnovers with their forecheck, particularly close to the blue line. Lindholm must be aware of that earlier than he thinks about producing on the different finish.
“They’re coming hard and they’re always trying to bump us and get in our way,” mentioned Lindholm. “You just have to be smart, move it quick and then get around them to join the rush. The middle’s going to be open if you get up quick there and you can try and jump in and help out.”
While the offensive numbers haven’t been there for Lindholm, it’s not smehting he’s overly involved about.
“I try to focus on us winning games. That’s always been my kind of game. That’s how I play,” mentioned Lindholm. “It’s not something that I’m too worried about. You’re just trying to help the team win hockey games. But obviously there’s going to be some opportunities to jump up there, you just have to be ready when they’re there and take advantage of it.”….
After beginning Game 5 with some totally different strains, Montgomery deliberate on going with extra acquainted models. With a line of Tyler Bertuzzi-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak beginning Game 5 for the primary time, it seemed like a few of that unfamiliarity led to the primary aim towards when Bertuzzi backhanded a feed into his personal slot.
“With Bergy coming back and us having some success, that changed what the lines looked like to start the game, but we quickly went back to what’s familiar,” mentioned Montgomery. “We thought the second and third period, because the lines were familiar, we had a lot of of moving play toward their end.”
Would familiarity be what Pastrnak, held to 2 objectives within the first 5 video games, wants?
“Pasta has the ability to assimilate his game to lot other people’s strengths, but clearly there’s people he’s played with that he’s had a lot of success with this year,” mentioned Montgomery. “So that familiarity, knowing where you’re going to be in certain situations – entries, O-zone play – enables him to get to his comfort place.”…
David Krejci, affected by what the crew has termed to be an higher physique harm (believed to be an arm or elbow) made the journey and skated in a non-contact jersey. He deliberate to take warmups and decide after that, however the truth that he didn’t participate in any of the power-play drills indicated he wasn’t prepared…
As he did earlier than Game 3, Linus Ullmark didn’t partake within the morning skate however Montgomery mentioned there have been no worries about him and that he’d get the vital begin.
“We weren’t worried in Game 3, either, we just didn’t tell you,” mentioned Montgomery….
After sitting out the earlier three video games, Connor Clifton went again in and Matt Grzelcyk was scratched.
Source: www.bostonherald.com
