Secondary answers in short supply

If the Bruins had an answer to get secondary scoring, they probably wouldn’t have been shut out in two of their last three games heading into Monday.

BRUINS NOTEBOOK

Without nearly any production outside the top line, as has been well-documented, the Bruins continued to seek chemistry on new lines before last night’s contest against Dallas.

With the shutouts, that top group of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak were held off the scoresheet for only the sec- ond and third time all season.

The Bruins need to start finding answers for when they inevitably have an off night.

“When those guys don’t score it’s glaring, because those guys have the ability to put up very crooked numbers in a single game,” said David Backes, who was back centering the third unit. “They’re our best three forwards together. We have that line loaded up. The opportunities that they get, they’re very good at producing. We can’t sit back and wait for them to do it, we have to be pushing the envelope.”

Heading into Monday, Backes’ unit, now consisting of Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork, had combined for a single tally all season, when Bjork scored against Detroit.

While Backes recognizes they have another role as well, the scoring production needs to start coming from somewhere.

“Even if we’re not scoring, there’s some onus on us to get it from the defensive zone to the offensive zone and set those guys up for success,” said Backes. “We get it in the forecheck in the offensive zone. All those things can start to sway momentum.”

Joakim Nordstrom rejoined the second line after success in small pockets the last homestand.

That leaves a little bit of chemistry for David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, but its another change to adjust to after Heinen spent more time with the group.

“I think we try to find different sets, different chemistries,” said DeBrusk. “Obviously we’ve been needing that extra goal here for a little bit, and that’s where changes are made.”

More than the third line, the second unit is going to need to be reliable. Krejci is fourth on the team with nine points (seven assists) but DeBrusk hadn’t tallied in seven games leading up to Monday night.

Chemistry is hard to come by with mid-game line switching almost every night. But a good way to put an end to that is to start scoring goals.

“We try to generate chemistry naturally on the ice, and that’s where it kind of comes to us,” said DeBrusk. “Whether its practice or preseason all the way up to now, we’ve been a group for a while now and it’s just a matter of executing out there and when things don’t go right, sticking with the game and do what you can do.”

Blidh gets call

The Bruins recalled winger Anton Blidh yesterday morning. Blidh leads Providence with 19 penalty minutes and has two goals and four assists for six points in 11 games in the AHL this season.

Cassidy said he was called up as a precaution with Chris Wagner battling a lowerbody injury from Saturday night in Nashville.

“Wagner had a lowerbody,” said Cassidy. “I think Chris is going to be fine, but that that’s why he’s here.”

McAvoy in limbo

Charlie McAvoy and Urho Vaakanainen are still not skating.

“I have nothing on Charlie, he didn’t skate today,” said Cassidy. “Neither did Vaakanainen. Not much new to report.”