First line no problem
Heinen makes most of chance
DETROIT — Danton Heinen knew his days on the first line with Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak were numbered.
The rookie left winger out of the University of Denver showed Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy he could play on the top line and last night scored the game-winner and added an assist in the 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.
Heinen was elevated from the third line to the top trio when Brad Marchand drew a five game suspension for elbowing the Devils’ Marcus Johansson on Jan. 23 at the Garden.
Marchand is the team’s leading scorer (50 points) and only NHL All-Star, and he will be back on the first line for tonight’s game with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Heinen expects to return to the third line with center Riley Nash and right winger David Backes.
“I’m excited to watch him play again,” Heinen said of Marchand. “I had a lot of fun on that line, so going back to the other line, I think I will just try and do the same things. Wherever they put me, I’m playing with great players up and down the lineup.”
Heinen is one of the NHL’s top rookie scorers with 12 goals and 25 assists in 47 games, and two goals and four assists in the past six games.
“I was joking that it was going to be hard for (Marchand) to crack the lineup,” Cassidy said. “It is a good problem to have, obviously, to have guys that can go up and fill in. He’s done a real good job up there, and it’s a good spot to be in. He relished the opportunity when it was there.”
High praise
Bruins center Patrice Bergeron has joined the discussion for league MVP, and he can count on the support of Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill.
“Bergeron, for me, has probably been the best player in the league for the season up to now,” said Blashill. “I think he has had as big an impact on winning as anyone in the league.”
Bergeron was the NHL’s second star of the month for January with nine goals and eight assists in 11 games and a plus-nine rating.
Bergeron is a four-time Selke Award winner but never has been a serious Hart Trophy (MVP) candidate until now. He is third on the team in scoring (44 points, 22 goals) and has a plus-24 rating.
“An elite two-way center is the most prized possession, with maybe a No. 1 defenseman,” Blashill said.
Streaking on
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask picked up his 22nd win of the season and extended his points streak to 21 games (19-0-2) with his second victory at Detroit this season. Rask’s run is the fourth-longest in Bruins history and includes a pair of shutouts at Philadelphia and Ottawa . . . .
Forward Noel Acciari (lower body) and defenseman Kevan Miller (upper body) did not play, and Cassidy was uncertain of their status for tonight’s game.