The Bruins’ energy play is in a little bit of a funk.
In the 4 video games for the reason that All-Star break, the B’s are 1-for-17 with the person benefit, and the one aim got here on a 5-on-3 in a 4-1 loss to Calgary. The drought price them dearly of their 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Lightning on Tuesday when the PP went 0-for-6.
As common, the B’s practiced the person benefit within the second half of Wednesday’s session at Warrior Ice Arena with the identical personnel groupings (minus-David Pastrnak, who was given a upkeep day; Kevin Shattenkirk was his place-holder on the left elbow). As coach Jim Montgomery identified, he’s switched personnel earlier than and can nonetheless change out Pavel Zacha for Charlie Coyle, relying on the faceoff.
“I think we’re really comfortable with the other four,” mentioned Montgomery, referring to Brad Marchand, Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk.
He feels the more moderen lack of success has to do with how they’re going about attacking.
“We were just getting back to our structure,” mentioned Montgomery. “Coach (Chris) Kelly met them before practice and showed clips of them of when we’re rolling and lately, the difference of coming together on breakouts and executing and finishing our routes on entries and then the quicker puck movement and getting pucks to high-grade scoring areas.”
While the O-fer was pricey on Tuesday, the work wasn’t all unhealthy. On the B‘s first energy play, they spent nearly all the two minutes within the offensive zone and did every little thing however beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. And after two skittish man-advantages within the third, their last one in regulation had its possibilities as effectively.
It gained’t assist them get that misplaced standings level again, nevertheless it ought to pump the breaks on a significant overhaul.
“He showed those good clips also,” mentioned Montgomery. “When you’re a confident power play, the puck’s moving and you’re converging at the net. A good power play is going (toward the net) and a bad power play is going away from the net … you need at least three guys inside the dots to be an effective power play, for me, and for the way we’d like to play and the things that have given us success.”
Van Riemsdyk maintained his spot because the net-front presence on the primary unit. He was upbeat on the state of the ability play.
“We haven’t had the (success) that we had earlier in the year, in the last few weeks or so. But (Tuesday) night I felt like we had some good movement and some good looks on net and doing more of the things we had been doing the whole year to make us successful,” mentioned van Riemsdyk. “I think it’s a matter of just playing within the structure and taking the options that are there. So I think it’s that fine line of being predictable to each other and having different options we can go to so if teams are trying to take away different things, then we know the next play. We have such good puck handling guys on the power play who do such a good job with that. I think we did a good job of that and getting some pucks back. Recovering pucks, too, is a big thing.”
Van Riemsdyk technically didn’t rating on the ability play on Tuesday, however he did tie the sport on a delayed penalty when the B‘s put on an extra attacker. It was the kind of goal that he’s lived off over his profession – an in-tight put-back of a rebound – which have been extra uncommon this 12 months for some motive, although not for lack of alternative. His 8.3% capturing % is the bottom of his profession.
“It’s been interesting that way. For sure, I felt like I’ve had some good looks around the net and felt like I could have a few more goals right now,” mentioned van Riemsdyk, who has 9 on the season. “But, yeah, I think ultimately goals like that become more important at this time of year going into the playoffs when things are tighter out there. Chances are fewer and far between off the rush, so just know this is the time of year to really key in on that and really know how important it is. Obviously it’s a real important part of my game so I’ve got to make sure I’m there in the right areas and really try to do my thing there.”
Rolling with Richard
Montgomery mentioned he plans on taking one other have a look at Anthony Richard on Thursday in opposition to the Seattle Kraken.
“I see a player who has given us some of the things we need, the speed, the tenacity on pucks, the ability to recover and get back. I like the way his game’s developing,” mentioned Montgomery. “His forechecking has been really good. He made the great pass to (Trent Frederic) off the one forecheck. I think he’s going to get more comfortable and we’ll see how he continues to progress.”
Richard’s line did have a few prolonged shifts within the Boston zone and at, 5-foot-10, he might be challenged getting pucks out from the wall.
“The defensive zone is a five-man unit, but the best role model you can have is Brad Marchand, right?” mentioned Montgomery. “(But) he’s there, he’s executing details and habits. I see him in practice, he stops, he’s doing what we want as a strong side winger. The stick positioning and things are things we’ll continue to work on. But he has progressed really well for someone who had never played a zone system before.”
Loose pucks
Pastrnak left Tuesday’s sport late within the second interval in some ache after taking a success from Victor Hedman alongside the boards, however returned to play the third interval and mentioned he was wonderful after the sport. Montgomery mentioned his upkeep day was extra to do along with his minutes.
“He played (22:24) last night. There tends to be a little muscle soreness when you play that many minutes so I just wanted to back off him,” mentioned Montgomery…
From the Department of Unequal Justice: The NHL fined Linus Ullmark $5,000 for high-sticking Tampa’s Michael Eyssimont. That excessive stick was preceded by a shoulder/elbow to Ullmark’s head, which acquired neither the two-minute minor it ought to have gotten nor a wonderful. …
Antennae went up when GM Don Sweeney was seen heading into an workplace with UFA-to-be Jake DeBrusk. They might have been chatting about something, in fact, nevertheless it’s not an on daily basis prevalence to see the GM assembly with a participant. And when that participant is in want of a brand new deal then, effectively, it will get folks pondering. But as of Wednesday afternoon, there was no phrase of an extension.
Source: www.bostonherald.com