Power play still needs to chip in
There are four games remaining in the Bruins’ regular season schedule and, in most most facets of their game, they are indeed clicking.
The shift- to- shift intensity is there. Odd-man rushes have been greatly diminished. The goaltending is more than reliable. And they’re producing enough offense to have won five of their last six games going into Tuesday’s contest against the Carolina Hurricanes.
But there is one glaring problem area that, if improved upon, could make the B’s lives a lot easier — the power play.
Yes, Charlie Coyle scored a big PP goal in the second period that helped them eventually post a 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers. But they could have done some real damage in the first period of that game when they got three consecutive power plays that came up empty. The B’s also had a PP in the third period with the score tied but could not get the go-ahead goal.
The B’s head into Tuesday’s game on a 2-for-24 PP skid. Coach Jim Montgomery feels like the problem resides between his players’ ears.
“I think it’s (confidence) and I also think it’s mental. We talked to them today, we had a meeting. Guys aren’t seeing plays that are there. They’re not seeing them at practice, surprisingly. I know it’s easy, standing there and I’m watching. But my old eyes are seeing it. They should be seeing it,” said Montgomery.
“That’s where I think their mindset needs to be about what we’re going to do instead of ‘Oh I wonder if it’s not going to work again.’ And that’s natural. And I think the details of everyone in their position needs to be better. We need to have a shot-first mentality from the elbows and from the top. We need our bumper to be more active. We need our net-front guy to take away eyes better and do drive-by screens and make more plays from the goal line. It’s everybody doing their job better. I think as soon as they start doing that more consistently… like the goal we scored. It’s a great entry and it’s an attack mindset right off the entry. (Brad) Marchand could have just pulled up and given it to (Charlie Mcavoy) but he took two steps in and then (Coyle) is open. It’s got to be more natural like that. And consistent.”
In Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, the first PP unit had David Pastrnak and Marchand on the elbows, Pavel Zacha in the bumper, Mcavoy up top and James van Riemsdyk at net-front.
Marchand’s last power-play goal was on Jan. 13 in St. Louis while Pastrnak’s last PP goal was on March 7 against Toronto.
And it’s been a challenging year for van Riemsdyk in the goalscoring department, who has 11-27-38 totals in 69 games. The last time he scored a goal was on Feb. 17, when he had two and an assist against the Kings. His last point came on March 2. He did have an illness that caused him to lose 12 pounds in mid-march, but Montgomery said he’s been healthy lately.
Van Riemsdyk has made a career of scoring in and around the crease area, but his 7.9% shooting percentage is the lowest of his career. He’s currently playing on a fourth line with John Beecher and Jakub Lauko. Pat Maroon is also getting close to return, most likely on Saturday in Pittsburgh, which will heighten the competition for lineup spots.
Montgomery has seen some promising signs from van Riemsdyk, though.
“Again, I don’t know how much of (the lack of scoring) is confidence,” said Montgomery. “It’s the first time in his career where he’s been in and out of the lineup, especially here in the last month, so that factors into it. But he needs to get used to that. And I felt his game has come along. His checking skills, the playing fast, being on top of pucks. We’re seeing him get those chances again, which for a little stretch there he wasn’t getting those chances.” …
Loose pucks
Jesper Boqvist won Saturday’s game with an overtime snipe, but the new line that he’s centering with wings Jake Debrusk and Trent Frederic hasn’t caught fire. Both Debrusk and Frederic, who have an identical stat line of 18-2139 and plus- 8, have gone cold of late. Frederic has not scored in five games while Debrusk’s goal drought is at seven games.
“Just be tenacious,” said Montgomery when asked what they have to do to break out. “I thought JD had his best game in a long time the last game and I think Boqvist, his confidence just keeps rising. Now he’s up on the third line. And Freddy’s just got to be Freddy. He’s got to be a guy that’s heavy, that owns pucks below the goal line and plays with pace and emotion.”
Debrusk believes the line is a work in progress, as one might suspect.
“I think our first game together was a little sloppy. Obviously we haven’t really played together at all. I don’t think I’ve played with Boqvist or Freddy,” said Debrusk. “But I like the speed aspect of the line. I think that me and Freddy are both pretty good shooters as well. I think it was a little better game (Saturday), but with chemistry, it’s takes a little bit of time. In saying that, with Bo getting that overtime winner hopefully it helps our line out and gives us a little bit of confidence. It’s one of those things where you just need to see one go in the net and things have a funny way of working out.” …
Justin Brazeau, who suffered an upper body injury in Nashville last week, skated before the B’s team practice. But it doesn’t sound like he’’s close to a return.
“He’s still week-to-week. And don’t ask me next week,” said Montgomery.