From Tuukka to Tampa
Sweeney assesses B’s performances
With his team getting some much needed rest after Wednesday’s rollercoaster ride of a Game 7 victory and his coaching staff getting ready for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was in a talkative mood yesterday at Warrior Ice Arena.
With the B’s over the hump of the first round, Sweeney looked back at the series win over Toronto that revealed both the warts and strengths of his team and looked forward to the series against the Lightning that promises, on paper, to be an even tougher matchup than the one against the Maple Leafs.
Here are few of the GM’s thoughts:
• While saying both Tuukka Rask and Toronto’s Frederik Andersen might have made a few more saves in the series, Sweeney expressed confidence in Rask, who had an .899 save percentage in the series.
“We’re through. We got through that round,” he said. “Some games he played really, really well. At the end of the day we have a lot of confidence in Tuukka, and I think going into the next series we’ll remain the same level of confidence that we can get the job done and he’ll be there for us.”
• Prior to Game 7, coach Bruce Cassidy was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. While Vegas’ Gerard Gallant is the favorite for the job he did with the expansion Golden Knights, Cassidy most definitely deserves to be among the top three, along with Colorado’s Jared Bednar. Sweeney praised Cassidy’s re-insertion of Danton Heinen and other aspects of Game 7.
“I said to him, full confidence, ‘Go and have a good night’s sleep before Game 7,’ because once the game started, Bruce is a damn good bench coach, and I think he’s shown that,” said Sweeney. “I think his players understand it, that he sees the game, he’s able to make some adjustments. He just went back to his convictions as to the players, as he mentioned, that had gotten our group to the doorstep of Game 7. He went back to the familiarity and put players back into their slots, and I think they were comfortable with it, and it shows confidence throughout our hockey club. I think it’s reciprocated to the coach.”
• Torey Krug is in the top 10 in playoff scoring with nine points (two goals, seven assists). He’s also a minus-4.
“Torey had some pretty special moments offensively in the series,” Sweeney said. “He’s a big part of our transition game, certainly our power play when he’s distributing and shooting. He rolls up in a big moment to score a real important goal for us (in Game 7). Again, he’s a real important part of our hockey club and why we’re able to generate offensively. Had some moments defensively that he’d probably acknowledge, situations that he’d want to rise up, and he will be in the next round, because he’ll be better for it. But another guy that wants the puck on his stick and makes good things happen. He had an impactful series.”
• Charlie McAvoy finished strong with a near 27-minute performance in Game 7, but he’s had issues in the postseason with movement and puck management.
“Charlie has played 77 games total in the National Hockey League. Thirteen of them happen to be in the playoffs. I think he’s doing fine,” Sweeney said. “He’s going to continue to grow and learn and be exposed to situations. Teams are now coaching against Charlie. He has to continue to grow from that, learn from it. He’s unfazed, which is a tremendous quality in a young player. So, we’re excited about where Charlie is and more importantly where he can get to.”
• Trade deadline acquisition Rick Nash had a goal and an assist in the series and was minus-4, but he did draw penalties and create a concern for the Leafs.
“I think there’s been times when Rick has been a big catalyst for our club. Possession, offensive zone, the ability to get to the net. Has he finished at the level we had hoped? Maybe next series,” Sweeney said. “I think he has the capability to do it. He’s gotten chances, partially by his own design and partially by his linemates. I didn’t necessarily like the retaliatory penalty (Wednesday) night, but he would be the first to acknowledge that that was probably ill-timed. But again, in the areas, in the hard areas of the ice to have opportunities to score, puck possession, creating chances for himself and for others, as advertised and hopefully continues. And he missed a lot of time (with a concussion). We had several players. Riley Nash missed time down the stretch. Hopefully those players will continue to get better and push forward for us because they are big parts of our hockey club. The only way we’re going to win is to have them all going together.”
• The Bruins were 3-1 against the Lightning in the regular season, but it’s now a different game.
“I think you have to acknowledge we caught them on a (second half of a back-to-back) one night and jumped on them early,” Sweeney said. “I just think you have to respect the opponent. They’re a formidable group. You knew last year they were injured and they were going to come back hungry. I think our group has respected the guys they are playing against and go out and put forth their best effort. There have been areas of the game that we’re going to try and attack and break down, and I’m sure they’re going to try and do the same thing. They had a little more time to rest, but hopefully we can go down and start the series off on the right foot.”