B’s need to protect their goalies
Rask roughed up by Devils
Goalie Jaroslav Halak can expect a greater layer of protection from the Bruins’ backend in Saturday’s matinee with the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N. J.
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was on the business end of cage-crashing sorties through the visitor’s crease in Thursday night’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Devils in the season-opener. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy elected to start Halak in the rematch against the Devils and have Rask ready for Monday’s encounter with the New York Islanders.
The Devils’ forward who took the most brazen liberties on Rask was Miles Wood, who got lugged to the cooler twice for interference on the goaltender. Wood also took out the Bruins net on an even-strength breakaway goal that tied the game 1-1 at 8:51 of the third period.
Wood’s first run on Rask didn’t draw a penalty, but he was challenged by Bruins’ defenseman Matt GrzelCyk before the Devils’ posse arrived in the corner.
Wood drew the ire of the Bruins’ blue-liners and his reckless antics were discussed at length following the team’s Friday afternoon practice at the Prudential Center.
“It happened four or five times it seemed like and it is something we don’t like to see, anyone running into our goaltender” said Grzelcyk. “We addressed that in the locker room and I think guys weren’t happy with that ( Thursday) night.
“So, we have to do a better job of not only clearing guys out in the zone and taking care of them on the rush. We can’t put Tuukka or Jaro in those positions.”
Grzelcyk has been upgraded to the second defensive pairing, replacing Torey Krug, who decamped to the St. Louis Blues in the offseason. Grzelcyk enhanced his duties as a puck-moving defenseman when he took over Krug’s slot. He has also assumed Krug’s role as the quarterback on the Bruins’ first power-play unit.
Grzelcyk logged 24:07 of ice time with 5:51 on the power play and 1:04 on the penalty kill. He spent most of his 14:46 evenstrength minutes paired with BrAndon CArlo, a rugged stay-at
home defenseman. Grzelcyk led the Bruins with six shots on goal.
“I think as a player we are all competitive and we want to be on the ice as much as we can,” said Grzelcyk. “It is just my job to go out there and make sure I’m in the best shape possible and managing my energy.
“When it is time to make a play, I am able to do that. Players welcome those opportunities and it was nice to be out there as much as I was.”
First-line shuffle
Rookie right wing Jack Studnicka may be a one-and-done on the Bruins’ first line with center Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, who had a goal and assist in regulation and scored the shootout winner.
Studnicka started in place of David Pastrnak, who tied Washington’s Alex Ovechkin for the league lead with 48 goals last season.
Pastrnak is recovering from hip surgery and is expected to be out until the middle of February.
Cassidy explored several replacement options during Friday’s practice and he wants to prevent the right flank from becoming a revolving door.
“Injuries dictate that so we do our best to fill in guys who we think have the best chance to succeed and to keep guys in the mix,” said Cassidy. “Again, with good options to put in there is never a bad problem to have and that anybody you put in there, you feel they can contribute.”
Center/right wing Craig Smith, who the Bruins signed as a free agent on Oct. 10 after nine seasons in Nashville, is an obvious fix but he is currently hampered by a lower-body injury.
Cassidy got good looks at both Trent Frederic and Anders Bjork, both of whom looked sharp on different lines against the Devils. Studnicka was limited to 11:40 of ice time, but hasn’t been totally ruled out, either.
“He (Bjork) could but some of it depends on Craig Smith, who was skating today and people got moved around,” said Cassidy. “Ob
viously Frederic, Bjork and Studnicka stay in, that is the plan and you have two spots for three guys.
“He’s (Bjork) been there before. Anders has been moved around throughout his whole time here.”
Fourth and three
Cassidy was very impressed by the hard minutes and steady production he got from his fourth line against the Devils. The troika of Frederic, center Sean Kuraly and right wing Chris Wagner played fourth-line minutes, but they combined for eight shots on goal. They were also instrumental in the Bruins’ penalty kill, but Cassidy is looking for secondary scoring from the unit.
“They made some plays,” said Cassidy. “They need to be part of it, secondary scoring opportunities and it is always good for your group when you get production from down in your lineup.
“Our guys always feel good about those guys because they do a lot of the dirty work. I thought they were skating on top of pucks and finishing a little better.”