Bjork up for physical test
Bruins focus on own game rather than opponent’s style
Bruins left wing Anders Bjork was aware of the size, physicality and occasional bad behavior of the Washington Capitals going into Saturday night’s encounter between the respective leaders of the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions.
Bjork, a 6-0, 190-pound, skill player with a history of injuries that have derailed his advancement in the Bruins’ system, has played in 11 games since being recalled from Providence and he realized that keeping his head up against the Capitals was the surest way to maintain a roster spot.
The Capitals — populated with big hitters like Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and defenseman Radko Gudas — can make a young forward like Bjork think twice on the rush.
But Bjork insisted that playing scared with the puck is a losing proposition, especially against the Capitals’ bad actors.
“I think hesitation is what gets you into trouble with guys that are physical and big and fast and strong like them,” said Bjork prior to the game at the TD Garden.
“I think you have to play your game. But obviously you are playing with your head up and aware of what’s going on. That’s kind of my approach when you are playing against a physical lineup or a physical player.
“But you want to avoid the hesitation and just focus on yourself and keep moving your feet and stuff like that.”
The Bruins snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Friday night. Bjork was impressed with the Bruins’ ability to overcome adversity through teamwork.
“I think our third period was big and I thought we stuck together and that was kind of our motto going in,” said Bjork. “We wanted that win bad, it was a big one for us and we kind of did it for each other.
“What I saw was a lot of guys making unselfish plays to make that happen.”
In the span of 24 hours, the Bruins transitioned from a finesse skating team like the Maple Leafs to brawny for the Capitals. Bjork felt the
Bruins were capable of that adjustment by playing within coach Bruce Cassidy’s system.
“Our focus is to play our game,” said Bjork. “When we are doing all the things right and taking care of the details, I think different styles don’t matter to us.
“It is going to take another 60-minute effort, that’s for sure. We saw things that we can clean up from Toronto and fix that to play a 60-minute hockey game.
“I think we have to use our strengths and our skills and the things that make us a good team. If we are not supporting each other, we can get away from that. We have to use our skills to the best of our abilities.”
Bjork has been playing his best hockey since replacing injured left wing Jake DeBrusk on the second line with center David Krejci and Charlie Coyle. Bjork registered an assist against the Maple Leafs and has tallies in recent losses to Montreal and Florida.
“I think I’m doing a pretty good job supporting them and enhancing their strengths and mine as well,” he said.