Big man Beleskey bounces back into lineup
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
Matt Beleskey vowed to be better than he was last year and, in the offseason, he slimmed down a touch to adjust to the new, faster NHL. He also had a decent preseason. The effort, however, has not yet produced the desired results in the regular season.
In his first six games, Beleskey was without a point and minus-2, landing him as a healthy scratch in four of the Bruins’ previous five games before last night’s 2-1 win over Vegas.
But Beleskey found himself back in the lineup against the Golden Knights. Coach Bruce Cassidy outlined what he wanted to see from the veteran left winger.
“Obviously, losing ( David) Backes, that’s a big body. So we’d like to have a guy that can fill some of that role. Now what does that mean, a big body?” asked Cassidy. “It means applying pressure on their defense, knowing that if they’re going to come out of their zone, they’re going to have to come through bodies. It means, in the defensive zone, clogging up lanes, winning your board battles and being a little bit abrasive when you’re out there so they know someone’s breathing down their neck that will finish his checks when they present themselves.”
Beleskey played 10:06 last night, recorded a couple of hits and was on the ice for Riley Nash’s goal, as he picked up his first plus rating of the season. He took a first-period tripping penalty behind the play, but the B’s killed it.
“I’m just trying to play my game, be simple on the puck and be hard on the puck. That’s when I’m at my best,” said Beleskey. “I thought it was a pretty good game. I had to get my legs under me. We’ve only had four games in the last three weeks and I’ve only played one of them. It was good to get going and overall I think it was a good game.”
White still in house
Pugnacious center Ryan White remains in camp on a tryout basis, but Cassidy said so far the team has attempted to fill holes with in-house candidates.
“Those are internal discussions. I think it’s a matter of exhausting our options that we do have with guys who have been in the organization that we feel can help us, depth guys. We talked about adding to our depth in the summer and that’s getting tested from Day 1 here. I think we’ve done a good job with that. Some guys have done better than others, that’s normal,” said Cassidy. “And without kicking the can down the road, those are ( Don Sweeney’s) decisions on who he signs and who he doesn’t.”
White said he has possible opportunities in the KHL, AHL and other NHL clubs, but his first choice is the B’s.
“Don’t want to give up on the dream,” said the affable White, who is being paid just a per diem to stay with the team on the tryout deal.
Surgery for Backes
Backes had his diverticulitis-related surgery yesterday.
“David Backes underwent surgery today to remove a portion of his colon. The operation went smoothly and he has started his recovery,” the B’s said in a statement.
It is estimated he’ll be out eight weeks. …
After seeing just 3:45 of ice time Monday at Columbus,
Frank Vatrano was a healthy scratch while Austin Czarnik was plugged into the lineup and recorded an assist. …
Torey Krug was finally able to shed his football-like facemask he’s been wearing since he returned to action in the second game of the year after suffering a broken jaw in the first preseason game.
“It was completely different. More cold air in my face, for sure, and just being able to see pucks differently and a bit more mobile. I liked it,” said Krug, who notched two assists in the win. …
Neither Anton Khudobin (lower body) nor David Krejci (back) skated in the morning.