The Bruins stopped the bleeding on Thursday with a win in Winnipeg. We’ll discover out on Saturday in the event that they’re totally stitched up with the victory or if it solely served as a short lived Band Aid.
The B’s will face the most popular crew within the NHL for an higher Midwest matinee on the Xcel Energy Centre once they face the Minnesota Wild, who’re driving a 14-game level streak (11-0-3). A win on Saturday may put the Wild in first place within the Central Division as Minny trails the Dallas Stars by only one level.
An equivalent efficiency to the one they gave to beat the Jets on Thursday most likely received’t get it completed in opposition to the Wild.
That’s to not say the B’s didn’t do some good issues of their 3-0 victory over the Jets. They had been dedicated to doing the arduous duties it takes to win. They blocked 20 pictures, seven by Charlie McAvoy, who saved a objective on certainly one of them. Their league-leading penalty kill, which had allowed 4 objectives within the earlier three video games, was again on the beam. And, most of all, their third interval was their greatest.
But there have been nonetheless some points. They gave the PK a bit an excessive amount of of a exercise, going an ideal 5-for-5. The B’s breakouts had been removed from crisp and so they wound up spending pointless time in their very own finish. And with out the good thing about a first-star efficiency by Jeremy Swayman, the sport may have simply gone the opposite method.
Coach Jim Montgomery appreciated the esprit de corps of his crew in Winnipeg, however is aware of there are extra steps that must be taken.
“I felt we were lighter (Thursday) at morning skate and I could tell by the way we were skating and the energy they had, how vocal they were, that we were going to be better and we were,” Montgomery advised reporters in St. Paul on Friday. “But we were only slightly better. We had a really good third. Our first 40 minutes, there were some good moments and some moments where we need to be better.”
Montgomery has acknowledged that it’s been arduous for the B’s to maintain their edge since clinching a playoff spot per week in the past, however they’re doing their greatest to speak their method via it.
“It’s not easy,” mentioned Montgomery. “We had a little bit of fall-off there and we just talked. A lot of communication we have among captains and staff and the entire locker room. We try to figure out what we need to do to get better every day. We talk honestly about that and hopefully our communication wills people to play the right way.”
The Wild ought to have the B’s consideration. While they hovered simply above the mediocrity line for a lot of the season and at one level had been battling for a wild card spot, Minny’s newest surge has the Wild pondering of loftier objectives. In their first assembly again within the second week of the season, the B’s misplaced a two-goal lead earlier than Taylor Hall received it with 11 seconds left in extra time.
What has been spectacular concerning the Wild’s level streak is that, for the final week, they’ve been doing it with out some of the explosive offensive skills within the league, Kirill Kaprizov, who is predicted to overlook roughly a month after Winnipeg’s 6-foot-7 defenseman Logan Stanley fell on him.
“I remember that the way they play, and the way (coach Dean Evason) has them playing with a great amount of emotion and energy, always leads to them being really hard to play against both offensively and defensively,” mentioned Montgomery. “I think they’re always one of the best net-front teams, best forechecking teams and defending their own net.”
While the B’s have been a measuring stick for each crew they’ve performed for the previous couple of months, they’ll get to measure their very own progress in opposition to a reasonably formidable Wild crew.
Hall nearing return?
Speaking of Hall, he seems to be nearing availability. According to the Athletic, Hall – out since struggling a decrease physique harm on Feb. 25 – skated on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena.
B’s administration must do some monetary juggling for Hall, at present on LTIR, to suit again on the roster. They may simply transfer Nick Foligno onto LTIR.
But the place Hall matches within the present lineup stays to be seen. The third line of Tyler Bertuzzi-Charlie Coyle-Trent Frederic has been persistently sturdy within the instances its been collectively, however that may need to be altered to suit Hall. They may drop Frederic to the fourth line left wing and transfer Bertuzzi to proper wing to open a spot for Hall. Or they might attempt Hall with David Krejci and David Pastrnak, then transfer Pavel Zacha, having the perfect season of his profession, to both the third line proper wing with Hall and Coyle, or fourth line left wing.
Zacha has been splendidly versatile and there’s little doubt he may properly in a fourth line position, however Montgomery would absolutely need to get him extra ice time with what he’s been capable of accomplish this yr.
A very good downside to have? Sure. But it’s nonetheless an issue that must be discovered.
No Forbort replace
Montgomery had no replace on Derek Forbort, who left the sport Thursday after blocking a shot. Forbort just isn’t anticipated to play this weekend and presumably past. Montgomery mentioned Connor Clifton will return within the lineup in opposition to the Wild. Montgomery mentioned Jakub Zboril, who has performed simply twice since Nov. 23, may draw into the lineup on Sunday in Buffalo.
Source: www.bostonherald.com
