Power play needs some alterations
Host Pens today
The Boston Bruins have adjusted portions of their power play to avoid being predictable.
In the opening months of the season, the Bruins power play was in a neck-andneck derby with the Edmonton Oilers for the top ranking in the NHL.
That feat took on greater significance because the Bruins most prolific powerplay scorer, right wing David Pastrnak, was recovering from an off-season arthroscopy on his damaged right hip. Pastrnak has returned to form and leads the team with six power-play goals.
The Bruins have incrementally slipped to 11th with a 22.8% success rate after going 0-for-2 in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden.
The Bruins and Penguins will play the sixth of their eight meetings this season with a matinee (1 p.m. ) this afternoon at the Garden.
The B’s hold a 3-2 advantage in the series but trail the Penguins by nine points in the East Division standings.
Playing the same seven teams, often in back-to-back situations, over the course of a season can expose tendencies on the power play that can be neutralized. Nobody recognizes this more than captain Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins’ bumper on the first power play unit.
“It’s cliché I know, but the plays that have been successful for us over the years are being taken away,” said Bergeron. “We have to find new ways to create chances differently and ultimately finding results and scoring goals.
“I think there are other ways we can do that. Obviously when we are up a man there should be a 2-on-1 somewhere and we have to find it. We have to use it to our advantage and bring the puck to the net and capitalize.”
The Bruins first line of Bergeron, Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are the core components of the Bruins’ first power-play unit. Marchand leads the team in powerplay points (3-10-13) with Pastrnak (6-3-9) and Bergeron (4-6-10) finishing plays.
Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (1-4-5) has taken over Torey Krug’s role as quarterback on the blue line while Nick Ritchie has established net presence with five goals and four assists. David Krejci has been a playmaker with nine assists on both the first and second units. Krejci’s lone goal this season was on the power play.
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s (0-5-5) ability to navigate the puck through the neutral zone and across the blue line has made him an exciting addition to the second unit.
“I think we have to be quicker on the power play,” said Bergeron. “We have to move the puck quickly and really get the puck to the net more and finding loose pucks.”
Rask recovering
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy does not have a timeline for the return of injured No. 1 goaltender Tuukka Rask. Cassidy has delegated the duties to reliable back-up Jaroslav Halak and Providence call-up Daniel Vladar. Halak will be in goal against the Penguins.
Rask appeared to have reaggravated an existing upper body injury in the first period of the B’s 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on March 25. Rask only played in three games in March and that includes the one period he was in net against Islanders. Cassidy said Rask was receiving treatment on Friday while the team conducted practiced at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.
“He is here getting some treatments, but he just hasn’t responded as anyone would have liked,” said Cassidy. “Sometimes when you are given a definitive ‘this guy is out for a certain amount of time of had surgery’ it is a little easier to put that behind you.
“This is kind of a day-today thing where players are getting treatment you ask a little bit more. Vladie is getting and opportunity and I thought he kept us in the (Penguins) game the other night. Jaro is as advertised to me and I think he has played well.”
Cassidy said defensemen Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller will not dress for the Penguins. He hopes to have them on the ice Monday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Pieces of April
During a normal season with room to make alterations between games, Cassidy would likely have conducted a grueling game situations practice in the aftermath of Thursday’s lopsided loss to the Penguins.
But with his team playing 17 games in April that includes three back-tobacks, Cassidy has tapered off on how much time and energy he can dedicate to practice.
“You’ve got to pick and choose wisely and some of that will be feedback from the veteran group and how they are feeling,” said Cassidy. “Some of it will be their performance on ice and you have to get out there and work on stuff.
“Looking ahead you have to decide if this would be a good day for a mental break as well as a physical break. I think every team has gone through it at some point or is going through it now this year.
“I’ve said it since day one, if your team starts to go off the rails a bit without the practice time, that is a real challenge for coaches and for teams to get it back.”