Bruins work toward quick fix
CALGARY, Alberta — With the previous night’s debacle in Vancouver fresh in their minds, the Bruins surely awoke yesterday suspecting what kind of day was in store for them.
And coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t disappoint.
It started with a video session, where Cassidy said he and his staff pointed out some of the good things that were done along with the obvious bad things in the humbling 6-1 loss late Saturday to the Canucks.
Then the grouped trekked from the Saddledome across the parking lot to the old Stampede Corral rink for a quick refresher course on what Bruins hockey was supposed to look like. After a few line rushes, much of the 35-minute session was spent doing some below-the-dots battle drills in front of the net. The practice was quick, but not easy.
“We play (today against the Flames), we play (tomorrow in Edmonton), so we have to be careful,” said Cassidy, “but it was a work day.”
The B’s still own the league’s best goals-against average and, if Saturday was just an aberration, then Cassidy might have been more apt to turn the page and move on.
But when you look back at their last four games — Buffalo, New Jersey, Calgary and Vancouver — the two good periods against the Flames at the Garden that produced a win look more like the aberration.
In losing to the Canucks, the hosts didn’t spend a ton of time in the Bruins’ zone, but the time they did spend was productive, thanks in large part to a slot area that was left wide open by the Bruins.
“We were getting away from what’s been good to us,” said Patrice Bergeron. “Our defensive zone coverage has been lacking a little bit lately and we have to tighten that up. (Saturday) night was a perfect example. Yeah, you do get some chances offensively (the B’s outshot Vancouver, 4523) and you don’t score, but the defense gets you right out of the game. I’m talking about overall defense, not just our (defensemen). I’m talking about the way we played in the neutral zone, to let that speed come right through our defense. Same way with our defensive zone. It’s been lacking. And the results show for it.”
The defense pairs remained the same as they were against Vancouver. Kevan Miller, who is close to returning from an upper-body injury, might be available today against Calgary. He skated at practice on a fourth pair with Paul Postma. Cassidy called Miller a game-time decision.
When he returns, Miller might go in for Brandon Carlo as the second-year defenseman had a tough night against Vancouver, posting a minus-4.
As Bergeron mentioned earlier, it wasn’t just the fault of the blueliners. Brad Marchand has not scored a goal since returning from his fivegame suspension and Cassidy believes that the frustration he’s feeling has bled into his overall game.
“I think it’s affected some of his game. Some of that is what we talked about today, the layers,” said Cassidy. “I think our wingers are leaving the zone early. I think that’s part of the reason we gave up some goals last night. They’re there for secondary support. It’s clearly not their job to be the guys directly in front of the net. But low slot coverage on determined possession by the other team, we can’t be leaving (the zone), and we’re leaving a little bit early.
“We’re looking for some easy sneakaways. When we have possession of the puck, or there’s a good chance we’ll win the battle, yeah, you can support in behind for a little soft chip at times. We certainly allow the players to do that. But we left early a few times, a number of players. (Marchand) was one of them, his line, on the a goal ... And we talked about it. And Marchie’s a very proud guy, so I’m sure he’ll work hard to correct it.”
Cassidy conceded that the B’s seemingly secure spot inside the playoff bracket might have something to do with the slippage. Going into last night’s games, the B’s held a 20-point bulge over the Panthers, the closest Atlantic Division team outside the playoffs. There’s no urgency right now.
“That’s the luxury we’ve afforded ourselves,” said Cassidy, who said Tuukka Rask will play in Calgary and Anton Khudobin in Edmonton. “But at the same token, bad habits are creeping in and we want to make sure we address it. It’s been a few games now where we’ve been loose. And you’re not going very far if you’re loose. You may win some games, but we want to get back to being a tighter, better defensive team . ... We need to pick up our game and be better in those areas if we expect to be beat good hockey clubs.”