Winger Backes with a vengeance
A key contributor recently in the Bruins’ newfound scoring depth that’s been so vital to the club’s splendid play the past several weeks, winger David Backes earned NHL third star of the week honors for putting up three goals and three assists in three games.
“I think the touch has maybe found me again, around the net and making plays,” Backes said. “Like I’ve said before, concentrate on the process and the results will end up being there. I think that’s been kind of the M.O. for the line I play on and the power plays: Do the right things all the time and eventually pucks are going to find you, it’s going to give you the opportunity and you’ve got to capitalize. I was able to do that on a couple of them.
“So by volume it’s going to end up working out for you in the long run. Being productive is great, but being productive in wins, especially against good teams, is a great feeling to have. While it’s my name maybe on the third star, there’s a lot of credit to spread around for teammates and the guys I’m on the ice with. Even the guys who aren’t piling up points on a game-to-game basis are still being very productive members of our team. Blocking shots and taking hits and killing penalties might not be headline new from (the press) but in here that means the difference between winning and losing games.”
Backes, who missed 12 games after colon surgery while dealing with diverticulitis, is putting together a pretty good campaign. He has seven goals and eight assists in 20 games.
Healthy outlook
Barring unknown ailments, the Bruins appear to have their entire roster healthy and available, maybe for the first time all season. Center David Krejci, who has been in and out of the lineup with undisclosed injuries, is a key piece now back in place.
“I feel good,” Krejci said. “I’ve had some good practices and a tough game. It’s always tough to play in Ottawa. I feel good. The guys are pretty healthy — knock on my head. It’s almost half the season gone and this is the first time we have a healthy lineup. Maybe it’s a good thing that we got all those injuries out of the way early in the season. Hopefully we can stay healthy for the rest of the season.” . . .
Defenseman Adam McQuaid is back from a broken leg, but, as valuable as he is, he can’t crack a group that’s playing very well.
“We want the right time for him (to return), but it’s a little tougher because our lineup is going well,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The pairs seem to be meshing. But that’s the competition we talk about. When Adam gets in there, you’re going to see, I would assume, a little extra push — the, ‘Hey, I don’t want to be the guy who’s going out.’ ” . . .
Winger Matt Beleskey, sent down to Providence in mid-December, has played six AHL games and produced two goals without an assist. He has 18 shots-on-goal and is a minus-4.
Isles hold card
Beset by injuries, the Islanders cling to the second wild card spot in the East and are tough to beat at home (12-3-3).
New York has lost Calvin DeHaan for the season with a shoulder injury, and fellow defenseman and old friend Johnny Boychuk is listed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.
One of the big stories of the year for New York is rookie forward Matt Barzal, the 20-year-old with tremendous quickness, lateral mobility and puck skills. Barzal, whom the Bruins passed over in the 2015 draft while selecting forward Zach Senyshyn and defenseman Jakub Zboril, has 13 goals and 23 assists and is a plus-4 . . . .
The Adrian College of Michigan team, in town after competing in U Mass Boston’s Codfish Bowl and coached by Torey Krug’s brother, Adam, was on hand to watch practice and later skate at Warrior Ice.