Last shot at Maple Leafs
Teams wrap up season series
Two of the first three times the Bruins faced the Maple Leafs this season came when they needed a win. The B’s were seeking a spark following an 8-5 loss to Vancouver, and then again at the end of a four-game losing streak.
This time around, circumstances are a bit different. The Bruins played some of their best hockey of the season in a five-game winning streak that ended Thursday against Washington, and it might be easy to look ahead to Monday’s game against archrival Montreal at the Garden.
But, the B’s still are coming off a loss. The 4-2 decision against the Stanley Cup champion Capitals was their 14th straight loss in the series. This time, a 4-2 loss to the Capitals to snap their winning streak. Memories of the winning streak are long gone, and there’s plenty of fuel to beat the Leafs.
“We’re going on to Toronto, and that’s another team we’re likely to see again,” forward Jake DeBrusk said. “It’s just a matter of taking what we learned in playoffs last year and playing them since (Maple Leafs head coach Mike) Babcock has been there and doing what we need to do to win.”
The Bruins are 2-1 against Toronto this season, with one loss up north and two wins at Garden. The regularseason series ends tonight in Toronto.
It could bring out the best in the B’s, and if Charlie McAvoy is back in the lineup, they’ll be as close to full health as they’ve been all season.
“We go on the road after a decent homestand, we know it’s going to be a tough task,” DeBrusk said. “Playing them in the playoffs last year brings that emotion level, so it should be a good task. We’re looking forward to it.”
McAvoy probable
All signs point to McAvoy making his return to the Bruins lineup tonight. Based on the pairings at practice yesterday, John Moore will be the odd man out.
“It’s trending that way. We’ll announce tomorrow,” Bruins head coach Bruce
Cassidy said of McAvoy’s return. “The obvious question is who comes out. Until he declares himself in, I don’t want to go down that road.”
Minor move
The Bruins traded for forward Paul Carey Thursday. The Weymouth native had been skating with AHL Belleville, the Ottawa Senators affiliate.
Going north is Providence defenseman Cody Goloubef. He was likely going to be the healthy scratch on the Providence blue line with Urho Vaakanainen returning.
Carey had five goals and 22 assists in 29 games for the AHL Senators. The Boston College alum has spent time with Ottawa, New York, Washington and Colorado. He will report to Providence.
Nash retires
Rick Nash, unsigned after requesting teams not to try to sign him in the offseason, announced his retirement because of concussion issues. He played 11 regularseason games with the Bruins after being acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline last season.
The 34-year-old’s agent released a statement via Twitter, saying, “Due to unresolved issues/symptoms from the concussions sustained last March, (Nash) will be forced to retire from the game of hockey. Under the advice of his medical team, the risk of further brain injury is far too great if Rick returns to play.”