Cassidy calls on Marchand to lead way

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After the Bruins’ 1-0 overtime loss Friday night in Dallas, coach Bruce Cassidy backed Brad Marchand in the belief that his two-minute slashing penalty on Ben Bishop was a result of an embellishment from the Stars goalie. BRUINS NOTEBOOK

But a player of Marchand’s ilk cannot be taking 10-minute misconduct penalties every time he doesn’t like a call, especially with the B’s as shorthanded in the leadership department as they are right now without injured and

And Marchand Patrice Bergeron Zdeno Chara. earned that extra 10 with his white flag-waving gesture to the officials.

But in the 2-1 win Saturday against the Coyotes, he appeared to have gotten the message as he played one of his best, most complete games in a while.

“It’s crucial right now. Bergy and Z are our two biggest leaders and they’re not there to pick guys up,” Cassidy said. “Kevan Miller’s out, he’s a good leader. Hopefully we get him back, so he can take care of some of that. But even just to stay focused on the ice for his own personal success and team success and not let the officials frustrate him if he feels there’s a call not going his way.

“It affects the whole team if now he’s sitting for 10. Now we’re using guys in certain situations where he should be out there as a dominant player. It’s both sides of the coin right now. I’m glad he took it to heart the other day and he’s going to have to regroup again (tomorrow in Detroit) with the same sort of approach. Listen, we’d like to see him do that for the rest of his career so we don’t have to answer some of these questions, myself included, but that’s Marchy. He likes to stir the drink a little, but hopefully some of the (misconducts), or most of them, are behind him now. He’s had a few.” Change on fly The Bruins shuffled the lines in Bergeron’s absence. The long-anticipated pairing of Czech countrymen David

Krejci and David Pastrnak, with Anders Bjork as the left wing, did not quite take off, but Cassidy plans to roll the combo out again in Detroit.

“I thought Anders really responded well up there. I like his game, he’s just not getting rewarded. That’s the last piece of the puzzle, obviously, putting it in the net,” Cassidy said. “He’s working hard. He’s on top of pucks. He’s trying to be hard on pucks, play the right way in terms of managing the puck. Now he’s got to finish a few plays. Hopefully that will come.

“Krech and Pasta, they were OK. We got some early goals from some other people, so that helps, so all the pressure doesn’t have to fall on them. But I’d like to see them develop and have chemistry if Bergy is not able to play.” ‘D’ duo closer

Charlie McAvoy and Urho Vaakanainen, both out with concussions, will meet the team in Detroit but won’t play tomorrow. They will practice with the team today and participate in the morning skate tomorrow, with getting in some contact a priority.

McAvoy has been out since Oct. 23 and Vaakanainen since Oct. 23. Cassidy believes both players will be doubtful for the back-toback games this weekend as well . ... Bergeron and defenseman

John Moore remained with the team for the game Saturday and returned home Sunday. Bergeron, who has a suspected left shoulder injury, was not wearing a sling.

“I know he was in a lot of pain, but I don’t know if it’s anything major, which (would) be good news, but I don’t want to speculate. I just know he’s not coming back to Detroit,” Cassidy said . ...

Tuukka Rask will play tomorrow in Detroit, Cassidy said.

“We want to get him back in there. He was terrific (in Dallas), so was (Jaroslav)

Halak (in Arizona), so it’s a good problem to have,” Cassidy said.