B’s hope to ride momentum

It wasn’t exactly a preseason of turmoil, but the Bruins did face several unique challenges before the start of 2018-2019.

With that firmly in the rearview mirror, the Bruins are having none of that excuse-making heading into game three, and the first on home ice.

“I think it was what we needed in a way,” said Jake DeBrusk. “I think the China trip, and all the excuses and things people were saying was kind of in our face there, but at the same time, we’re still out on the ice and have to compete harder.”

The final two Bruins preseason games, despite getting to overtime in one of them, had a sense of being disjointed, and getting just a week of practice together before the start of the regular season is a factor.

But there’s coming apart against Philadelphia in the exhibition finale, and then there’s allowing the Capitals to put up a seven spot when the games count.

“It was early, and obviously it’s tough when you’re out there and going through it, but at the same time you need to feel that and that there’s a lot more that you can do,” said DeBrusk. “That’s what we tried to incorporate, we had the back-toback so we didn’t have time to think.”

Buffalo the next night was closer to the effort the Bruins are looking for against Ottawa today, the first time the team will skate in front of a home crowd in the regular season.

“I think we build up from what we did well there,” DeBrusk said. “There were some things in the third period that we need to clean up a bit, but at the same time, it’s the second half of a back-to-back. We need to understand that can happen to us in Washington and we have to come ready to play.”

Power play settles in

The Bruins are 1-for-2 on the power play to start the season after a dismal showing in the preseason.

With Torey Krug out, both the first and second units have gotten different looks, with the first group consistently being quarterbacked by Matt Grzelcyk.

DeBrusk is getting looks in the “bumper” role similar to how Patrice Bergeron is used with the first group, and it’s a role Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy hopes he grabs.

“He and (David Backes) are changed there, you want to run it off either elbow,” he said. “You always want if it’s off (David) Krejci’s side, more often than not it’s Jake in the bumper for the one-timer. He hasn’t developed that instinct that Bergy has.”

Wagner back

After not playing in Buffalo, Chris Wagner will re-enter the lineup today.

“That’s just a matter of keeping guys fresh,” said Cassidy. “You don’t want guys to sit too long until someone plays themselves out.”

Wagner skated alongside Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari on the fourth line in yesterday’s practice.