Winning brings out an identity
In a 27-hour span this week, the Bruins showed they can win with speed, skill and offensive firepower, and they can also win by clamping down defensively to protect a 1-0 lead with layered team defense, grit and Grade A goaltending.
BRUINS BEAT Stephen Harris
The pieces are falling into place nicely for a B’s team that was understandably inconsistent in its effort and execution early in this season of big changes, but now is shaping an admirable identity — yes, kind of a traditional Bruins style identity of toughness, hard work and talent.
Having disposed of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Garden Monday, 7-2, and the Sabres in Buffalo the next night, 3-0 — to improve to 11-31 in their past 15 games — the B’s tonight tackle a talent-rich, underrated Winnipeg Jets squad at the Garden.
If the kids were the story in Monday’s victory, Tuesday belonged to No. 2 goaltender Anton Khudobin, who has exceeded expectations in providing an excellent alternative to Tuukka Rask.
The thought comes to mind that Khudobin, assuming he continues to shine in his difficult role, ought to be a leading candidate for the Seventh Player Award.
Of course, the way things are going, this team will have a slew of worthy candidates for the overachieving, unsung hero accolades. How about the whole fourth line, which has contributed in so many ways recently, from timely goals (Tim Schaller into an empty net to ice the win in Buffalo), to hits and crucial shot blocks (Noel Acciari on Jack Eichel when the B’s lead was just 1-0 late in Tuesday’s game).
But Khudobin, picking up where he left off in the latter months last season, has filled the backup void remarkably well.
The colorful and quirky Kazakh did not start well last season but was 6-1-0 in his final seven starts. Combine that run of fine play and what he’s done this season, and Khudobin is riding a 143-2 hot streak and providing stable, confident play between the pipes.
“He seemed square, in control, not a lot bothering him, not a lot going on around him in terms of him overplaying situations,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after Tuesday’s shutout. “You know he’s in a good place when that happens. He deserved it. He was full value. We needed that out of Anton.”
The Bruins got a variety of contributions in the win against the Sabres, with defenseman Kevan Miller striking the first blow (literally), first when he pinched down the boards and buried Buffalo’s Jacob Josefson was a thunderous and clean hit, and then when he pounded out a unanimous decision against Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian.
“You love to see that from your teammates: He’s answering the bell,” forward David Backes said after the game. “He plays the game like a man. He’s a man’s man. He definitely gave us a little boost there.
“I think they carried probably the first five minutes; they took it to us in a big way. We needed a little spark. He was a great team guy and up to the task.”
Said Acciari of Miller’s hit and bout: “He definitely got the team going. I think after that, we found our game.”
One negative Cassidy found in the game was a dangerous shorthanded bid by Jake McCabe early in the third period of a 1-0 game. The B’s have given up a few scoring chances recently while on the power play.
“That’s becoming very problematic,” Cassidy said. “We’ve got to correct that. Because we don’t want to take momentum away. When you’re on the (power play) you’re not going to score all the time — even the best (power plays) don’t — but you can’t take momentum away from your team.”
While Cassidy’s team is putting together an impressive stretch of play, the Sabres continue to disappoint as they head for a seventh consecutive season out of the playoffs.