Tough night all around
Lose game, Krug hurt, Marchand absent
The euphoria in Boston hockey circles that erupted Tuesday when the Bruins nailed down a berth in the playoffs dimmed rather suddenly last night — for reasons on the ice, off the ice and in the medical room.
On the ice, the Bruins once again proved unable to handle the Ottawa Senators, a possible opponent in the first round of the playoffs next week. The clubs have met four times this season, and the Sens have walked away with two points in every game — the latest via their 2-1 shootout victory last night.
Off the ice, it was impossible not to judge Bruin Brad Marchand very harshly for his stupid and selfish cheap shot early in Tuesday’s playoff-clinching victory over Tampa Bay.
Quite rightly suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety, the B’s top goalscorer was absent in the kind of smothering defensive struggle in which his skills might have been the difference between one point and two.
And in the medical suite, the B’s may have received devastating news on defenseman Torey Krug — one of the most important pieces of this team’s puzzle. Krug left after an innocuous-looking collision with Senator Viktor Stalberg along the boards.
It didn’t look like much but interim coach Bruce Cassidy sounded a bit ominous afterward. He offered no hard information, but some suspected a knee injury.
“He couldn’t return, so that’s never good,” Cassidy said. “I imagine there’ll be a release at some point.”
There also could be a signing and call-up from Providence (AHL) of rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The youngster from BU shoots right, not left like Krug, but could provide some of Krug’s dynamic puck-moving and offensive skills.
Along with Krug’s unknown fate, there also wasn’t a lot solidified regarding the Bruins’ playoff situation. Based on the possible permutations of the regular season’s final three days, it remains undetermined whether the B’s will finish second or third in the Atlantic Division and play the Sens or Leafs, or in the No. 2 wild card slot and face the Capitals.
What we do know is that last night’s setback was not ideal.
Plus, the loss of Marchand, whose magnificent season (39-46-85, plus-18 in 80 games) makes him the favorite to be the left winger on the All-NHL first team and maybe even part of the MVP conversation, is far from ideal.
But his latest dirty play — the spear into the groin of Tampa Bay’s Jake Dotchin — certainly tarnishes the reputation further for a guy who’s been suspended four times and fined several others for his chippy antics.
He will be back next week — we don’t know about Krug — but if the B’s face the Senators, the million dollar question is whether they’ll be able to solve their 1-3-1 neutral zone trap.
The Bruins handled it well in the first period last night, with an early goal by Drew Stafford and a couple of great net-front chances by Frank Vatrano. But in Period 2 (seven shots) and 3 (three), they had a devil of a time advancing the puck through the neutral zone.
“In the first period we got through it pretty well,” said defenseman Kevan Miller. “They made some changes in the second and third. That’s how it goes — a little bit of a chess match. When we got through clean and got behind their ‘D,’ we were totally fine. But their game is based off of turnovers in the neutral zone and trying to get going the other way.”
Miller was candid in assessing the impact of losing Krug.
“It’s huge,” he said. “Whether it’s 5-on-5 or power play, he’s a key guy for us. He’s been great for us all year. He’s a dynamic player and we obviously missed him out there.”
They missed Marchand, too, and will again if they need a win vs. Washington tomorrow to avoid facing the powerful team in Round 1. But Miller wasn’t about to speak ill of Marchand for what he did and what it cost the team.
“We all have his back, 100 percent,” Miller said. “I mean, Marchie has been great for us all year. It’s an unfortunate play. That’s what happens sometimes when you play on the edge. He does.”
True. But when he goes too far, the team pays the price.