B’s gear up for long trip
Hope to ride wave of streak
During the past two weeks, the Bruins have run off an eight-game point streak (5-0-3) and solidified their playofff standing, building an eight-point bulge between them and the closest non-qualifier (Carolina).
Now we’ll see what they’re really made of.
The B’s begin a five-game Western Conference swing tomorrow night in Anaheim then play in Los Angeles on Saturday. Things get really challenging when they face the Pacific Division-leading Sharks on Monday, the ever-tough Golden Knights in Las Vegas on Wednesday and the scorching hot Blues in St. Louis on Feb. 23.
And it’s not like the B’s have been road warriors this season. They’re a mediocre 11-10-5 away from Causeway Street. In the past month, they’ve have big wins in Toronto and Washington, but they’ve also blown twogoal leads in New York and Philadelphia, losing both in extra time.
Anaheim has struggled but just fired coach Randy Carlyle, so it’s possible the Ducks could respond in a positive way. And though the Kings have started to sell off pieces (Nate Thompson went to Montreal earlier this week), their heavy style gave the B’s problems last Saturday. The Bruins won 5-4 despite spitting up another two-goal lead.
The B’s, who would actually be in first place if they were in the Metropolitan Division, will be tackling this challenge without their most dynamic offensive weapon, David Pastrnak, currently out with a thumb injury courtesy of a latenight stumble. They responded well in their first game without him, putting up six goals against the Blackhawks, who were an utter mess in their own zone. Don’t expect things to be so easy on this trip.
“We’re just trying to find some consistency in our game,” Jake DeBrusk said Tuesday night. “Obviously third periods have been a focus for our team. I remember last year we were always down going into the third periods and we’d always come back. This year ... sometimes we’ll be up and then it gets a little scrambly. So on the road, it will be a big test, some good teams.
“I think if we play and have the mindset like we did (on Tuesday), we’ll get more looks. And that’s how we have to play, especially with Pasta being out. When you lose someone like that at this time of the year, it has to be a group effort, for sure.”
While the Pastrnak injury will be tough to overcome for an offensively challenged team, the best sign of the season has emerged during this eight-game streak. Some of the B’s second-year players, dormant for most of the season, have showed signs life.
Danton Heinen appeared to be in the midst of a lost season when he was bumped up to the top line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in coach Bruce Cassidy’s effort to balance the scoring. He has seized the opportunity, with six points (three goals) and a plus-6 rating in three-plus games.
Charlie McAvoy, dogged by injuries this season, is back to being an impact player. His back-to-back weekend performances were a reminder he has the ability to achieve elite status.
And DeBrusk snapped a sophomore skid. He played a 13-game stretch with no goals just two assists before chipping home a pass from David Krejci in the second period Tuesday, his 15th goal of the season.
In less than two weeks, we’ll find out what, if any- thing, general manager Don Sweeney adds to the mix before the Feb. 25 trade deadline. DeBrusk will be glad when the deadline has passed.
“I’m confident with what we have in here to be honest with you,” DeBrusk said. “Obviously there’s lots of talk, lots of rumors, we all see it, especially us younger guys on social media. We’re kind of tuned into that.
“Honestly, we’re trying to take it game-by-game. That’s my mindset because you never knew what can happen . ... It will be exciting after the road trip coming home. It’s almost two weeks we’re going to be away, and then we come back. I remember after last year’s trade deadline ... we were in the room and it was like, ‘This is who were going to war with.’ We feel the same way right now in here, don’t get me wrong, but things will get a little more intense.”
The B’s recalled forward Karson Kuhlman for the road trip. Kuhlman has 12 goals, 13 assists and a plus-22 in 50 games for Providence.