DeBrusk sidelined with likely concussion
BY STEVE CONROY As if the offensively challenged Bruins could really afford it, they went to battle against the explosive Maple Leafs last night without Jake DeBrusk.
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
Coach Bruce Cassidy described what sounds like a concussion DeBrusk might have suffered when he took a Danton Heinen shot off the back of the head late in the game in Toronto on Nov. 26. “He came in (Friday) and was not feeling great, he was not feeling great during the Tampa game and after but he hasn’t come in today. So right now, we can only speculate. I know he got hit in the back of the head with the puck but he played, so right now we’re waiting for him to come in and let us know where he’s at,” Cassidy said. Cassidy also ruled out DeBrusk for today’s game in Ottawa as well. DeBrusk, who is second on the team in goals with 10, certainly hasn’t looked like himself in recent games. After pumping seven shots on net in Toronto, he’s had eight shots in his last four games. He had one good scoring chancing on the power-play in Tampa but that was it. He’s also minus-6 in his last four games. The loss of DeBrusk made an already top-heavy team even more so. With the lanky winger out, Cassidy loaded up the top line, putting David Krejci between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. The other lines had Colby Cave centering Heinen and David Backes, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson between Ryan Donato and Joakim Nordstrom and Sean Kuraly centering newcomer Gemel Smith and Chris Wagner. Cave took a puck in the ear during the morning skate and left the ice briefly, but was OK. “Luckily I have small ears,” he said.
Star is reborn
Smith, claimed off waivers from Dallas on Thursday, certainly seemed like a popular figure among his Stars teammates, who all shook his hand and gave him a hug after news came down that the B’s had acquired him. “I’ve been with that organization since 2012, so I knew a lot of guys for a long time and there was a tight bond, but it’s all part of the game,” Smith said. Ultimately, the return of Martin Hanzal off injured reserve forced the Stars to put Smith on waivers but his time had been dwindling before that. He’d only played 14 games including a seasonlow 3:25 minutes against Vancouver on Dec. 1 in his final appearance with Dallas. “We had a lot of players that came back (from injury) and guys that came back from Russia that made it tough. There were a lot of guys battling and unfortunately, I was the odd man out,” Smith said. “I was just looking for more opportunity, obviously. I want more opportunity. I’m glad I got it here and I’m ready to show what I’ve got.” A left shot, Smith played all three forward positions at various times with Dallas. “I think I can play up and down the lineup, bring energy. I think I’ve got skill, can score and make plays. I just want to be a gritty, two-way player who is responsible and can provide offense,” he said. With the state the B’s are in, Smith can dictate how much ice time he’ll get with the level of his play. “He’s got some time in the league. He’s fast, which should help us be effective on the forecheck. He’s done some penalty killing more than the power play. He played in a good program down there in Dallas, so I suspect he’ll be good away from the puck,” Cassidy said.
Team toughness
While he conceded his team has been taken advantage of at times with both Zdeno Chara and Kevan Miller out of the lineup, Cassidy didn’t think the B’s are in need of a traditional enforcer. “I think there have been some games where we certainly could have used it. Teams have taken liberties with those guys out. But I think we always answer the bell,” the coach said. “It might not be with our biggest guys now because they’re out for obvious reasons. I don’t think we need an enforcer. We need to continue to have a team toughness mentality. I always feel if you initiate, you don’t need to retaliate. It takes care of a lot of that. Maybe that’s where we need to be better. Put teams on their heels. Be hard on their skill (players) before they become hard on ours.”