Rookie Bjork finds game again on Krejci’s wing
The bevy of Bruins rookies have had their learning moments this year, and they’ll surely have more of them. For Anders Bjork, he’s been going through a bit of a double whammy lately.
Bjork not only is trying to come back from his first injury as a pro (a suspected concussion) that cost him seven games, he’s also been getting used to a new centerman. Throughout training camp and the early part of the season, Bjork had skated on the Patrice Bergeron-Brad Marchand line.
But in the three games since returning, he’s been on David Krejci’s right wing. In the first two games he only managed one shot, but in last night’s 6-1 win over Arizona he finished off a nice giveand-go goal with Krejci.
“It’s been great. I’m trying to find ways to make our line more successful because he’s a different player than Bergeron, but he’s such a world class player,” Bjork said before the game. “He makes so many good plays, it’s on me to help guide those plays and turn those plays into offensive production.
“Coming back from being out for a while has been hard for me to find my speed and timing, I guess. But I think (Krejci) has helped a lot with that and he makes such smart decisions with the puck, it’s easy for me to read off that. I’ve got to keep talking and learning ways where I can improve and help out the line.”
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy felt Bjork started playing with some good pace in the latter stages of the Nashville game on Monday.
“I thought managing the puck was an issue early on,” said Cassidy, who’d also like to see the rookie shoot more. “One of the things I think Anders has to learn is that there are a lot of defensemen in this league that will gap up and gap up quick. They’re big and they will hit you if you’re not ready. He’s learning part of that process.
“He’s learning to understand when there’s ice in front of the defense and he can use his skill. And when there’s ice behind the defenseman he has to chip and chase, or chip to a spot and get in on the forecheck.”
We’ll see how long he plays with Krejci. Throughout training camp, Cassidy had his set veteran forward pairs, putting right winger David Pastrnak almost exclusively with his Czech countryman Krejci. But the trio of Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak, put together when Krejci missed 11 games with a back injury, has been tremendous lately and the coach wants to ride that as long as he can. But he also wants to take a good look at Krejci with the two kids.
One in, one out
Turns out the B’s were able to defer any big decisions with regard to a roster spot — at least for a few more days — thanks to a recurrence of Ryan Spooner’s groin injury. Jake DeBrusk, returning after missing three games with an upper body injury, simply came off injured reserve and Spooner went on it, which means he’ll have to miss at least tomorrow’s game against the Islanders as well.
But there could be more tough decisions waiting for general manager Don Sweeney in the next week or so. Not only may Spooner be healthy in short order, but
Adam McQuaid continues to rehab from his broken fibula and may not be too far away. The B’s are currently at the 23-man roster limit . . . .
Tuukka Rask stopped 20of-21 shots and, despite the blowout final score, had to come up big at times . . . .
Pastrnak extended his point streak to seven games with his assist on Marchand’s goal 15 seconds into the game.
Always improving
It is not uncommon to see Kevan Miller, if his partner gets caught up ice, make up a big chunk of ice to cut off an opponent’s scoring chance. Cassidy said that Miller is a self-made man when it comes to his solid skating ability.
“It started in development camp a number of years ago,” said Cassidy, who coached Miller in his Providence days. “He’s a guy that has really improved his skating, which is not an easy thing to do. He came at 25 and you’ve got your habits created already. He really worked at it.”