Minutes keep piling up
Rookie McAvoy earns ice time
Charlie McAvoy has become out of necessity the ironman of NHL rookies.
The Bruins defenseman owns 10 of the top 11 ice time performances by a rookie this season that includes an NHL-high 29 minutes, 47 seconds against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 29.
McAvoy is averaging 23:42 a game while no other rookie is averaging more than 20. McAvoy is likely to match his ice time average when the Bruins face the Philadelphia Flyers today at the Wells Fargo Center.
McAvoy insisted he is comfortable with the workload following yesterday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.
“It is something that I am starting to grow accustomed to,” he said. “I think that there are certain matchups where you are entrusted to go out there and play hockey, and it is something that I prepare for now and feel comfortable for sure.”
McAvoy, who will turn 20 on Dec. 21, averages about the same minutes per game as his 40-year-old blue line partner Zdeno Chara, who logs a team-high 23:55.
According to Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, McAvoy has developed the onice management skills he needs to keep up with a 20year NHL veteran twice his age.
“He is efficient on the ice and we talk about big moments,” said Cassidy. “It doesn’t matter how many minutes he plays because he rises up and he is efficient. There is not a lot of wasted energy and I think that is the high minutes part. He doesn’t come to the bench exhausted because he is chasing guys all over the ice, and that is hockey sense.”
McAvoy is generally satisfied with the offensive component of his game. He is 13th in scoring among rookies with three goals and 10 assists. McAvoy had a goal and an assist in the B’s 3-2 win over first-place Tampa Bay Wednesday night at the Garden.
“It is something that I have been trying to get going from the start but obviously it is a different kind of competition in the NHL,” said McAvoy. “It is another thing that I’m getting accustomed to but when I get my chances I’m trying to capitalize on them.”
Rask back in net
Cassidy said Tuukka Rask will be in goal today and Anton Khudobin will start at Nashville on Monday night.
Cassidy was satisfied with Rask’s 19-save performance against the Lightning. Rask gets the opportunity to lower his goals-against average (2.84) and enhance his save percentage (.899) against the last-place Flyers with a mediocre power play. Khudobin has a 2.22 GAA and .932 save percentage.
“They will split the games. We’ll go from there after that,” said Cassidy. “One start each and then we’ll reassess next week.’
Bjork may play
Rookie left winger Anders Bjork could dress for today’s game. Bjork skated with authority in practice and showed no signs of the “undisclosed” ailment that kept him off the ice for seven games.
Cassidy said there was a possibility veteran center David Krejci (lower body) could dress, though he practiced with a non-contact red jersey. Cassidy said left winger Jake DeBrusk (undisclosed) and defenseman Adam McQuaid (lower body) are healing but not ready to go.
“Bjork is day-to-day and still looking like a possibility,” said Cassidy. “Krejci felt better (yesterday) and that’s encouraging and if he wakes up (today) he could potentially go in.”