Forbort steps to forefront for B’s
Bruins survive late onslaught from Sharks
BOSTON » Derek Forbort was not the sexiest offseason pick-up in the Bruins’ summer spending spree. Such is the fate for stay-athome defensemen.
But when the B’s somehow found themselves in a one-goal game with the San Jose Sharks late in the third period at TD Garden on Sunday — a contest they never seemed to be in danger of losing until then — we saw a little bit of why B’s management inked him to a three-year deal. After a pair of deflection goals by the Sharks in 49 seconds made it a 4-3 game with 5:41 to go, the Bruins founds themselves in survival mode and Forbort stepped to the forefront. He’d already scored his first goal as a Bruin — a long-range gift that eluded starting goalie Adin Hill —
and added an assist, but this was one of those situations for which he was hired.
Forbort, who has had some ups and downs in the first three games of the season, played 2:12 of the final three minutes and was a big part of making sure one more goal did not get past Linus Ullmark as the B’s have their first win streak (a modest two-gamer) of the season.
“He’s going to have to play in those situations. He’s a good guy to clear the front of the net. I thought he managed the puck well. It went up to the forwards and they could have done a better job of giving us a little more breathing room, to be perfectly honest with you,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “We did a couple of head-scratchers, that we’d normally put away.
Made it interesting with their goalie out. But he had a good game tonight. He obviously moved the puck a little cleaner and got rewarded for hitting the net. But, yes, that’s where he needs to be good for us.”
Along with the goal and an assist, Forbort recorded three blocks in 20:31 of ice time. The points were nice, but the successful close-out is what gets Forbort juiced.
“I love it,” said Forbort. “Being out there with a one-goal lead, the goalie pulled, that’s kind of my favorite time to play hockey.”
Forbort has quickly gained the respect of his new teammates.
“He’s been great from the first day he’s been here, in the room, off the ice, he gets along with everybody really well. He’s a great guy,” said Brad Marchand. “And then his game on the ice, he’s one of those guys that you hate to play against, really solid defensively. He makes really good plays out of the Dzone. And he goes top cheese, too. Happy to have him here.”
A few more observations from the the B’s 4-3 victory:
For the second straight game, the B’s first line staked them to an early lead. This time, it came on a blitzkrieg of a first shift, with David Pastrnak dishing to Patrice Bergeron behind the net before the captain fed Marchand in the slot for the goal just 28 seconds into the game. Pastrnak also added a onetimer power-play goal off a Bergeron feed.
But the group also left a couple of potential goals on the vine in the third period that would have made life a little easier. Set up all alone in front, Pastrnak rang the crossbar behind James Reimer, who replaced the ineffective Hill in the second, and Marchand fanned on a drag move at the top of the crease.
Though Marchand has 4-3-7 totals through four games, he’s not yet pleased with his game.
“I just think that sometimes things go your way and you get bounces at the right time. Actually, I don’t think I’ve played my best hockey,” said Marchand. “Regardless of the points, I think I could be better. I could manage pucks better and I’ve felt tired a few games. I still think I can be better than what I’ve been.
Points, it’s part of it, obviously, but I want to be happy with where I’m playing and how I’m playing, and I’m not quite happy enough yet with how things have been.”
Ullmark picked up his second win in as many starts. He had little chance on either of the two third period tipped goals, but he allowed a bad short-side goal in the first period shortly after going up 3- 0. It kept the Sharks in the game. But Ullmark made 23 saves in all for the win.
“The two deflections, I don’t know that you can fault the goalie on those. Obviously, it’s a weak goal, their first one. Short-side, you want that one,” said Cassidy. “He made some good saves on the power play, and our power play when we broke down, he stops a breakaway. Not a very busy night for him and that’s what he’ll have to get used to with our team at times. When we’re good defensively, we can do that to stay in the game.”
With Nick Foligno (upper body, IR), Anton Blidh (upper body) and Craig Smith (a presumed lower body injury) all unavailable, the B’s had to make some roster moves. They sent John Moore, who cleared waivers at the start of the season, to Providence and called up Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen.
Steen picked up his first NHL point when his deflected pass set up Jake DeBrusk for a left wing snipe that chased Hill. Steen, who played with DeBrusk and Erik Haula on the third line, later turned down a good shooting opportunity, but played reasonably well.
“The puck was following him tonight. He’s got to learn to shoot the puck. ... He was deferring. Young guys, at some point, they have to attack the net and be selfish when the pucks on their stick. He’ll have to go through that,” said Cassidy. “But he worked hard and he was in good spots.”
Studnicka was on the ice for one goal against but had an otherwise uneventful day centering a fourth line with wings Trent Frederic and Karson Kuhlman. In 11:10 of ice time, he had one shot on goal.