B’s pay tribute to Habs legend Lafleur
Died Friday from lung cancer
Bruce Cassidy has said many times how much of a Bruins’ fan he was growing up in Ottawa. He would know as much as anyone how often the Montreal Canadien great Guy Lafleur crushed the hopes of his favorite team back in the late 1970s.
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But as a hockey man, the Bruins coach could not help but respect not just the immense talent but the showmanship of the Le Demon Blond streaking down the right wing. After Lafleur died on Friday from lung cancer at the age of 70, Cassidy paid his respects.
“Terrific hockey player, seemed to have a great personality, great flair for that market,” said Cassidy. “I see a guy like (David Pastrnak) and it reminds me a bit of what Guy Lafleur was. He kind of marches to the beat of his own drum, smile on his face every day, creative hockey player, big shot down the wing, a goal-scorer that comes through. I hate to do that, compare him to a Montreal Canadien as you know. But Guy Lafleur to me was a great hockey player. He just happened to be wearing a sweater of the team I didn’t like or support. But at the end of the day, I loved the way he played the game. That line with (Jacques) Lemaire was like (Patrice Bergeron‘s line), (Steve) Shutt could shoot the puck off the wing. That was hell of a line to watch.”
Lafleur was a perfect fit for the bleu, blanc et rouge.
“He was a French Canadian guy that followed a tradition of others, Yvan Cournoyer. But he even had more, with the hair flowing, took the helmet off,” said Cassidy. “You think of Ron Duguay of the Rangers and Lafleur with the Habs flying down the ice. Like I said, he was great for hockey. Mike Bossy and him in the same week, it’s a tough week for hockey fans. Obvi
ously, condolences to both families. Hockey lost two really good right wingers and I guess the team above just got strengthened on the right side. But it’s too bad.”
In a nice touch, the Bruins held a brief video tribute and moment of silence prior to Saturday’s game against the
Rangers for Lafleur. There was even an audible “Guuuy!” chant from the crowd, very possibly emanating from the Ranger fans who made the trek north (Lafleur played briefly for the Rangers when he came out of a three-year retirement in 1988). When the B’s play the Habs on Sunday, it will be the first Canadiens’ home game since Lafleur’s death. They will no doubt have something special planned, as no one does ceremony like the Habs.
Pastrnak hits milestone
Pastrnak’s best skills are displayed in the offensive zone, but it was a defensive play that put him in some pretty lofty company. When he blocked an Adam Fox pass in the defensive zone to start
the play that ended up with Taylor Hall scoring on a breakaway, he picked up a helper and his 500th point in his 508th NHL game.
He is the third fastest Bruin who debuted with the organization to reach 500 points. The two ahead of him? Bobby Orr (396 games played) and Ray Bourque (484 GP).
“That’s pretty good company for David,” said Cassidy. “Not surprised. High offensive skill. For him it was growing into his body at a young age and he put the work in in the gym to be strong on pucks. He gets targeted every night. To be able to sustain it is a credit to what he’s done off the ice. On his way to 600.”
The milestone was not lost on Pastrnak.
“Obviously it’s nice. If you told me that as a kid, I
wouldn’t believe it,” said Pastrnak. “I’m very humble about it and happy. Something more that you look back to and enjoy with your family and friends. It’s nice. But at the same time, there’s other goals in my mind.”
Pastrnak missed eight games with what was believed to be a core injury. Asked if he was 100 percent, he didn’t exactly answer in the affirmative.
“At this point, the end of the season, it’s long so everybody’s playing through some injuries. Obviously just battling through and I can’t wait for the playoffs and hopefully be better,” said Pastrnak.
Cassidy said before the game that Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm would not travel with the team to Montreal so as to not tax the B’s returning players too much
right away.
This and that
Charlie McAvoy and Fox have been friends since growing up together on Long Island, but McAvoy buried Fox with a clean check from behind, sparking a little bit of nastiness with
Dryden Hunt jumping McAvoy. Hunt and McAvoy both got roughing minors.
Meanwhile, McAvoy’s sister Kayla is interning with Rangers in the strength in conditioning department and the siblings exchanged fist bumps during warmups . ...
Tomas Nosek had a strong day in the faceoff circle, winning six of seven draws . ...
With Lindholm returning,
Mike Reilly was the scratch
defense while Marc McLaughlin was scratched to make room for Pastrnak.