Scrutiny on power play
Unit must find ways to improve
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
The Bruins power play has come under scrutiny after a rough preseason, and Torey Krug’s injury didn’t make it any better.
In Monday’s home-opening 6-3 win over Ottawa, the man advantage looked destined for misery again until Patrice Bergeron netted the second goal of his hat trick on the power play.
It’s still small steps for the B’s special teams efforts.
“We all know that you win and lose games from good special teams, and that’s something that we’ve been doing good last year,” said Bergeron. “We have to kind of get back on track this year and I think the PK (penalty kill) wasn’t very good for us and hurt us, but I think we’re definitely getting better that way.”
The penalty kill showed its might with a strong 5-on-3 kill in the second period that prevented Ottawa from gaining momentum. The kill might be a little ahead of the power play, and the early looks have been a good sign.
“It becomes turning points, momentum builders, (Zdeno Chara) saved a goal — big, long heavy stick,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy of the PK work. “Noel (Acciari) did a great job, thought could have drawn a penalty on that one, the breakaway. They didn’t see it that way, so not only do you keep it out of your net you create offense while you’re doing it, so good for him and (Brad Marchand) and Zee and (Brandon) Carlo and (Kevan) Miller. They’re generally pretty good at that. And their goaltender needs to make saves. That makes a difference. They get back in the game, get some momentum.”
The next step is getting the power play on track, which, sans Krug, is going to have its pains. Matt Grzelcyk took Krug’s spot on the power-play point and struggled to control the puck.
Until Krug returns, Cassidy will look for the former Boston University blueliner to make progress.
“He wants to take control of it, he wants to make the appropriate play up there and move it around. I think he’ll be good on entries,” he said. “He’ll get better as it goes along. Torey’s going to be back. I think he’ll mind the store, so to speak, pretty well in the meantime. We’ll miss the ability to score from up there, which Torey’s proven he can do.”
Backes sparks third party
While the first and fourth lines got plenty of attention for their roles in Monday’s win, the third line started to show signs of life.
David Backes played his first game back at center and adjusted quickly.
“We started to create our forecheck and we want to be a line that can change the momentum of a game,” he said. “It used to be go make a big hit or go start a fight, but now if you can take a D-zone draw, turn it into an O-zone draw, or be under siege and be able to get in the offensive zone and get a good change to leave the next line something good. Those are momentum-changing shifts throughout the game.”
Anders Bjork brings speed alongside Backes, and the coaching staff wants to see him break out in that role while showing progress playing away from the puck as well.
“Anders just has to learn how to manage the puck, when to make plays, when not to hang onto it because he’s got it a lot,” said Cassidy. “And it’s just for him to figure out, OK if I do give it up in this league it’s tough to get it back, so we’d like him to possess it even more.”
Backes’ role at center can only help the development of Bjork.
“David can only speak to how he liked being in the middle of the ice,” Cassidy said. “It’s one game, but certainly that’ll be the plan going forward unless something changes in the next few days.”
Turn up the lights
One noticeable change at the Garden is the brighter lights, literally, not metaphorically. New LED lights were installed, and on TV the brightness can be picked up while shadowing out part of the crowd.
“It’s kind of like Madison Square Garden after the change they made a couple years ago,” said goalie Tuukka Rask.
Rask hasn’t noticed much of a change in fielding shots, but he has taken note of the difference.
“It is brighter. I think they changed,” he said. “It’s a little darker in the stands it looks like, but I think they changed the lights. I’m not 100 percent but it’s good.”