DeBrusk helping to set the table this year
At this time a season ago, Jake DeBrusk had but two assists.
The Bruins are not looking for him to dish the puck, especially since he plays primarily on a line with David Krejci. However, it was something in his game he felt he lacked at times last season, and he finished with just 15 helpers.
Entering Sunday’s game with the Canadiens, DeBrusk has six this season. Though not a huge number, he has helpers in two of his past four games, including a pair against the Rangers, and his confidence has grown.
“I think I have more assists than I did after Christmas last year right now,” said DeBrusk. “It’s just a matter of pucks going in. It wasn’t like I wasn’t generating looks for my teammates, I’m not necessarily a tunnel vision player. But it’s just a matter of getting production.”
The Bruins are plenty happy with DeBrusk scoring goals. He missed some time already this season so his scoring pace isn’t there, but even that’s come around a bit with four goals since the start of November.
He’s not a pass-first player, and they don’t want him to be, but that element of his game is also producing for now.
“Sometimes you just get lucky bounces,” he said. “That’s what happened on (David Pastrnak)’s goal (Friday). If I take that shot it’s going wide of the net, but everything that guy touches goes in the net. So it’s nice to produce.”
Studnicka sent down
The Bruins sent Jack Studnicka back to Providence after two games up with the varsity. Coach Bruce Cassidy said on Sunday they wanted him to play center, and with Charlie Coyle moved back there against the Canadiens, he wouldn’t get that opportunity in the NHL for now.
“We’ve talked about how important his development was if he wasn’t gonna be here, a lot like (Urho Vaakanainen),” said Cassidy. “It’s his first year pro, more important that he plays. I thought his game was good the other night, got on pucks. He’s got some things to learn if we’re gonna put him on the wing.”
John Moore will also skate with Providence after being assigned there on a loan off long-term injured reserve.
Backes returns
For the first time in 13 games, David Backes is in the lineup following his upperbody injury against the Senators. He slid in with Sean Kuraly and Anders Bjork.
“We’d like to see him be able to perform at NHL pace right now because when you miss a month, that’s a lot of hockey games,” said Cassidy. “Getting back in, getting his feet under him, being able to do things with limited time and space — it’s not practice anymore when guys are on you. Just be able to do his job. I don’t want to say he’s gonna play X-amount of minutes because that depends on penalty kills, power play, influence at 5-on-5. Hopefully he’s up to the task for his shifts 5-on-5 and we’ll try to work him in to the second power play and see where it leads us.”
Brad Marchand was good to go on Sunday night after playing through flu-like symptoms on Friday and missing practice on Saturday. Brett Ritchie, dealing with a lingering infection, partook in Sunday’s optional skate in a red non-contact jersey. Patrice Bergeron was out for the fourth straight contest with a lower-body injury.