The nine-day break for hockey-starved Bruins followers is lastly over on Saturday, and the B’s re-entry into motion ought to be simply as difficult because the section simply earlier than their trip.
They begin with an ABC-televised marquee matchup on the Garden in opposition to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (3:30), who’re in a five-team scrum for the 2 Eastern Conference wild playing cards. The Caps went into Friday’s video games within the first WC spot however they had been bunched up with the Penguins, Islanders, Panthers and Sabres, with a mere three factors separating Washington from Buffalo.
After that, the B’s journey to Dallas to play the Western Conference-leading Stars on Tuesday after which on Nashville to play a Predators workforce that’s making an attempt to reel within the sinking Minnesota Wild.
The B’s, clearly, won’t be afforded the chance to ease again into issues.
And although the B’s sit atop the NHL at 39-7-5, they are often higher than they had been within the final couple of weeks. At the highest of the fix-it checklist is the ability play, which went 0-for-13 within the final 4 video games earlier than the break and was one of many greatest culprits within the workforce’s three-game shedding streak. In observe on Friday, they went with a prime unit of Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Brad Marchand working the web entrance.
The B’s might additionally use some extra manufacturing from Taylor Hall. With Jake DeBrusk out, he’s bounced across the lineup, together with getting a glance on his off wing with Bergeron and Marchand. He additionally noticed a while with Krejci and Pavel Zacha and, on Saturday, anticipate to see him on left wing with Charlie Coyle and Nick Foligno.
Since selecting up two helpers in a Dec. 19 residence win over Florida, Hall has simply two targets and three assists within the final 20 video games. Coach Jim Montgomery feels just like the break ought to assist him, from a psychological standpoint as a lot as a bodily one. The inner numbers additionally inform Montgomery that Hall has not been as dangerous as these numbers may recommend.
“I think with Taylor, the production hasn’t been there. But oddly enough, our scoring chances, he’s third most 5-on-5 in the last 10-game segment,” mentioned Montgomery on Friday. “He’s getting looks and I think it’s normal when an offensive player who’s relied on for production like he is with us, they know that they’re here to produce. So it can become too much and they start thinking about results too much. Taylor and I have had some healthy conversations. We actually just had one. He’s in a real good place. Everybody kind of needed the break. Everyone’s re-energized and I think everyone’s excited to play again. When you know an eight-day break is coming, it seems like mentally you get more tired before the break. And we’re in a much better place as a team. Everybody, staff included.”
His pairing with Coyle down within the lineup ought to assist not simply Hall however the general product.
“I just really like the chemistry there. The last game in Toronto we switched to that … and they just seemed to give us an edge,” mentioned Montgomery. “On the third line, when you have Coyle and Hall on your third line, that’s a huge advantage. And that’s the depth. When you look at when Taylor Hall was producing, our team was really dominant and it was 5-on-5 play. He was scoring power-play goals and all that, but that ability to have those two players on your third line really makes you dangerous.”
DeBrusk getting nearer
DeBrusk, who had a flight canceled that prevented him from making it again in time for Thursday’s observe, was in attendance on Friday, skating in a crimson non-contact jersey. He won’t be out there for Saturday’s in opposition to the Caps.
“We haven’t seen the imaging yet that will say we’re comfortable with putting him back in,” mentioned Montgomery. “We’re hoping for Tuesday (in Dallas) but we’re not going to take any chances. And if he’s not ready for Nashville, we won’t go then, either. But we do think it should be by Nashville because I think that gets us to six weeks. That’s the thought.”
Montgomery once more marveled on the toughness DeBrusk confirmed within the Winter Classic to play by way of a a thumb damage and damaged fibula to attain each targets within the 2-1 win over the Penguins.
“Substantial amount of pain, both injuries, the thumb and the leg,” mentioned Montgomery. “It’s pretty remarkable the toughness that he showed to come through in a big moment like that. I watched ‘Behind the B’ the other day and he couldn’t walk up the stairs. He’s using his stick like a cane. And that’s four minutes after he scored the winning goal. And great coaching by me. I had him out there in the last minute. So I was not aware he was hurting.”
Montgomery additionally mentioned Tomas Nosek, who suffered a damaged foot on a blocked shot on Jan. 19, tried skating just lately however it didn’t go properly, so that they’re pulling again on his return a bit.
Early Ovechkin look
Ovechkin comes into the sport 82 targets shy of Wayne Gretzky’s file of 894. Montgomery obtained an early scouting report throughout his one yr taking part in in Russia when his membership, Ufa Salavat Yulayev, performed in opposition to Ovechkin’s Moscow Dynamo workforce in 2003-04. At the time, Ovechkin was being billed as the subsequent Pavel Bure.
“I couldn’t believe how big he was,” mentioned Montgomery. “He was 17 turning 18. It was his draft year and I couldn’t get over how big he was. He was a man-child out there, in a real good league.”
Montgomery mentioned after his workforce picked up the win, he noticed a flash of Ovechkin’s fireplace.
“He got into an argument with our fans,” mentioned Montgomery. “I remember him slashing the glass. The fans were reaching out because it was short glass and they were pulling on his jersey or something and he turned around and I thought, ‘Whoa, he’s got a temper.’ I’ve never really seen that since.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com