Backes takes a stand for flag

Since President Trump’s now infamous “SOB” comment on Friday referring to NFL players who knelt in protest during the national anthem, the issue has been the talk of the sports world.

While NHL locker rooms tend to be less politically charged than other sports — Tim Thomas’ decision to skip the Bruins’ White House visit in 2011 notwithstanding — the subject did not escape the B’s room.

Minnesota-born twotime Olympian David Backes didn’t resort to any name-calling, but he made his position clear.

“My opinion is I’m an American. I love my country and I love my flag and I know that I’ve got great buddies in the military and their sacrifice for my freedom. I’d never want to do anything to disrespect them,” said Backes at Warrior Ice Arena yesterday. “From my standpoint, I’m standing for every national anthem with my hand over my heart when I’m staring at the flag, recognizing those sacrifices. If I’ve got a beef with a social issue that’s going on else-wise, I’m finding different avenues that are not disrespectful, especially to those military men and women that give me the freedom to do what I do and love what I do. I think there’s better avenues, better methods to organize and to state . . . at some point it turns from stating disdain for what’s going and needs to shift towards specific solutions to the problems that I think are widely recognized but need great solutions coming from great leaders from different parts of the country. I think that opportunity has presented itself and now it’s time for somebody to step up and collaborate to bring those great solutions so that we can be the amazing country that I think we are.”

Frank Vatrano of East Longmeadow said kneeling would not be for him, but he didn’t want to judge anyone else’s actions.

“It’s stuff that’s been going on for a long time now,” he said. “You’ve got to respect the decisions they want to make and sometimes it causes unwanted attention. But you have to give them credit. Guys are sticking by their teammates and it’s a team game. Hockey, I think, is a little different. I don’t think any hockey player would do that.

“But give them credit for standing up for what they believe in. You can’t be mad about it, but it’s obviously a difficult thing to see and it’s something I wouldn’t do.”

Michigan native Austin Czarnik agreed that kneeling would not be his approach, though he said you can’t hold it against athletes for expressing their opinions in their own way.

“Everyone has their right and they can choose what they want to do,” said Czarnik. “Personally, I would stand just because I’ve played for my country and I just feel it’s not the right thing to do, to kneel or anything like that. (The military) is out there fighting for us every single day and none of us can imagine what that’s like. They’re risking their lives and we’re just here playing sports. They can do whatever they want to do, but I’d like to stand.”

Subban shines

The Bruins got first-period goals from David Pastrnak, Jeremy Lauzon and Anders Bjork and a third period power-play tally from Patrice Bergeron, then goalie Malcolm Subban held off the Chicago Blackhawks for a 4-2 victory last night at TD Garden.

Subban made 24 saves, including three in a row in an important sequence in the third period, which earned him a spirited ovation from the crowd.

“It felt good, I’m not going to lie. It felt pretty good,” said Subban, who has been shelled in a couple of other Causeway Street performances.

Subban is most likely headed to Providence at some point, but B’s coach Bruce Cassidy said he could see some more game action before the preseason is out.

Of more pressing importance was the play of Bjork, who is tightening his grip on the first line right wing spot with Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Along with the goal, he created a breakaway for himself with a smart neutral-zone steal but was stopped by Chicago goalie Corey Crawford.

Hello Providence

Defenseman Tommy Cross and winger Jordan Szwarz were placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Providence . . . .

Though sent to Providence on Sunday, Cassidy praised the impression that roustabout forward Jesse Gabrielle made in his first training camp . . . .

Zdeno Chara has not skated the last two days because of illness.