Beleaguered offense finding its way
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
The Bruins have enjoyed an offensive windfall while experiencing an injury crisis on the defensive end. Coach Claude Julien is trying to sustain the former and alleviate the latter going into today’s matinee with the New York Islanders at the Garden.
The top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak have been steady contributors in both 5-on-5 and powerplay situations, scoring nine of the 22 goals the B’s have put up in the last six games. (Marchand has seven by himself, including two as part of his fivepoint show in Saturday’s win against Philadelphia.) The B’s have three or more goals in five of the six games, with this their only six-game stretch scoring at least 20.
“I think we were hoping for that (sustained scoring) for sure, and during the course of a year, there are ups and downs,” Bergeron said. “You stick with it and that’s what we’ve done and we are generating a lot of chances and a lot of shots on net.
“It was just a matter of finding second and third opportunities around the net but also bearing down on the great chances in the slot that we are getting every game.”
Marchand leads the team in scoring with 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists), followed by Pastrnak with 33 (19 goals, 14 assists) and a team-high plus-16. Bergeron has nine goals and nine assists.
Miller’s crossing
Julien said defenseman Kevan Miller was being examined for a concussion after being hit from behind Saturday by the Flyers’ Jakub Voracek.
Defenseman Colin Miller skated with the team yesterday in Brighton, but did not participate in contact drills. He sustained a lower-body injury (left knee) in Tuesday’s win in St. Louis.
“Nobody is well equipped for losses, but we have got some depth at that position so far and knock on wood we still have enough here to get through,” Julien said.
The Bruins skated six defensemen — Zdeno Chara, Brandon Carlo, Torey Krug, Adam McQuaid, Joe Morrow and John-Michael Liles — in practice, and have not called up reinforcements from Providence of the AHL because Colin Miller is day-to-day. Liles missed 20 games with a concussion before returning at Carolina on Jan. 8, while Morrow has been a healthy scratch since last playing on Dec. 12.
Off the Matt
Injured left wing Matt Beleskey was a semi-active participant in practice as an appendage to the Bergeron line. Beleskey is in the final stage of rehabbing his right knee, which was injured by a hit from Buffalo’s Taylor Fedun on Dec. 3.
“It’s been a long time skating by myself and being away from the team, so it was great to be back out there,” Beleskey said. “We are gradually working in some contact and hopefully a week or so would be ideal.” . . .
The Bruins are a perfect 5-0-0 in matinee games this season. They’ll have seven left after today’s game with New York, which squandered a two-goal secondperiod lead in falling, 7-4, at Carolina on Saturday.