The Bruins have performed two video games and received them each, however that doesn’t imply the group is a finely tuned Stradivarius simply but, particularly on offense. Against Nashville, they wanted two power-play targets and a elegant David Pastrnak penalty shot to eke out the 3-2 victory.
So in Monday’s follow forward of the group’s four-game highway journey that begins on Thursday in San Jose, coach Jim Montgomery jumbled his prime 9 forwards to create three totally different strains.
The most eye-catching transfer was to to bump up rookie centerman Matt Poitras to play with Brad Marchand, mentioning Morgan Geekie with him. Jake DeBrusk moved again to his pure left wing to play with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha whereas Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic, a stable pairing final season, had been reunited with James van Riemsdyk on the left wing.
Montgomery had stated in the beginning of the season that he needed to be affected person along with his new prime six, however apparently two video games was sufficient persistence proven for him to begin the blender.
“It’s a small sample – two games – and we’re going on the road and that factors into it a little bit on why, but I haven’t seen a lot of offense 5-on-5 generation,” stated Montgomery. “Again, small sample size but I trust my eye behind the bench and when I follow it up and see it on video, I just want to try something else to get a spark.”
Marchand, who had been skating with Coyle at heart and DeBrusk on the suitable wing, skated some with the inventive Poitras in preseason and likes what he’s seen from a purely hockey standpoint.
“He’s a great little player. Very smart, very skilled, really good at finding space with the puck. To have the poise he has at his age is really impressive,” stated Marchand. “The biggest thing for him is just being able to do it every night. At this level, you’ve got to be consistent. With the amount of games and the travel and how hard it is to practice and to train the way we do here, that can take a toll on your body if you’re not used to it. So the biggest thing for him will be how he’s able to recover and continue to take care of himself. But when he gets on the ice, he’s a heck of a player. He definitely shows that he belongs here. So the biggest thing is his consistency and showing up every night and he’s done that so far.”
One factor that has been spectacular about Poitras, past his ability stage and hockey sense, is his tenacity on the puck. As a 19-year-old rookie, Poitras might not win each battle, however at the least his opponent is aware of he’s been in a single.
“Yeah, he dogs the puck. He’s not timid at all. He goes to the hard areas. And if he loses it, he has the second and third effort to get it back,” stated Marchand. “That’s typically what makes players good in this game. If they don’t make it the first time, they’re able to get it back and make it the second or third time. As he continues to get older and stronger, that will benefit him even more and more. So I’m excited to see his potential and where he goes in his career but he’s got a lot of great attributes right now.”
Poitras picked up a helper within the season opener towards Chicago, pulling up and displaying good imaginative and prescient to identify Brandon Carlo, who delivered a shot that Frederic tipped dwelling. Against Nashville, he had an awesome probability in entrance off a Frederic feed however Juuse Saros made a terrific cease on him.
“He’s generated a lot of offense already and we might as well give him a real elite player like Marchy on his line,” stated Montgomery. “And I’ve really liked Geekie’s game and I just want to see if there’s chemistry there offensively. On the other line putting (DeBrusk) there I think it gives us a real good rush line, adding a lot of speed and creativity to it. Again, is it going to work? Who knows?”
Indeed, the accountable Geekie has been a safety blanket for the rookie.
“He’s really good to play with because he’s really good at getting in on the forecheck and keeping pucks alive in the O-zone,” stated Poitras. “And he always seems to be good when two guys come to you, he’s right there to help out and keep the puck alive.”
While he’s been tagged as a set-up man developing from Guelph – 79 assists in 63 video games will do this – he is aware of from taking part in Marchand within the preseason that the captain likes the puck on his stick, too.
“You just see how he’s going to hold on to pucks more and possess the puck,” stated Poitras, “So for me it’s just going to be about playing away from the puck more and kind of learning to find some open ice for him because he’s going to find me.”
While Poitras is understandably enthusiastic about taking part in with Marchand, taking part in up within the lineup presents new challenges. He’ll be seeing extra first and second protection pairings.
So be it, stated Montgomery.
“If you’re going to play in the NHL,” stated Montgomery, “you’re going to play against everybody.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com