Cassidy, B’s geared up for opener
Face off with Devils in Jersey Thursday night
Bruins’ coach BruceCassidy conducted a details-oriented scrimmage on Monday morning at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.
With the season opener on Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Cassidy is scrambling to finalize the roster, formulate his lines and parcel out special teams assignments.
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
“For the details, more details about special teams for sure,” said Cassidy during a Zoom press briefing. “We want to build more of that in as we go live stuff and we did a little more of that today with some of the video we went through earlier in the week.
“Are we getting there with our breakout structure that we’ve tweaked a little bit? So yes, a little more detail of what was taught earlier in the week.”
With the absence of preseason contests combined with an abbreviated training camp, Cassidy has made due simulating game situations in-house. A scrimmage is no substitute for an NHL game, but it took on an intense competitive edge, especially for the bubble players. Cassidy closed the scrimmage with a shootout drill.
“We are watching a little more closely some of the younger candidates,” he said. “But again, it was more a game situation than anything and to get guys playing against live competition.
“You can compete in practice and we do and I like our level of compete a lot of days. But it still is not going to simulate live competition so we thought today was the best way to do that.”
Separation clause
The Bruins practice social distancing, especially between the pipes.
Incumbent goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak are competitors on the ice and friends off the ice, but there is no room for social interaction in the workplace. Because of the threat of a positive COVID test result on the smallest category on the roster, Cassidy has placed limits on his goalies’ proximity around the building. Cassidy has delegated enforcement of the team policy to coach “Goalie” Bob Essensa.
“They are going to end up within six feet, but Goalie Bob has discussed it with them,” said Cassidy. “For example, in meeting rooms when the goalies are getting together with Bob, they would huddle around his desk going through some video and you are in tight quarters.
“You just can’t do that anymore. You have got to try and get people a little more spread out and there are a lot more meetings going on with doors open. When we are doing video, we have to keep Tuukka in one group and another with (Halak) as opposed to bringing both goalies in at the same time. We are doing a lot of the same meetings twice with groups a bit out of position to avoid the risks.”
The Bruins play their first three games on the road, putting strain on time management for safely distanced meetings and practices.
Jacked up
Right wing JackStudnicka is being asked to keep the seat warm for David Pastrnak on the Bruins first line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
Pastrnak underwent a right hip orthoscopy and will be out until the middle of February. Cassidy plans to use Studnicka on the power play and penalty kill, opportunities that could secure a spot on another line when Pastrnak returns. Neither Pastrnak or Marchand competed in the scrimmage.
“I thought Jack had a real good game even though he wasn’t playing with Bergy and Marsh wasn’t out there for precautionary and he took a day off,” said Cassidy. “He’s got to help himself by playing well whatever line he’s on and whatever situation he’s in and it was more penalty kill today.”
Making his Kase
Right wing Ondrej Kase quickly adjusted to the organizational and cultural differences when he came to Boston from Anaheim last February.
“Like here, we try to play very offensive hockey and skating a lot,” said Kase. “I think that is the biggest difference between Boston and Anaheim.”
Bruins management has been searching for a dependable right wing on the second line with center David Krejci and left-wing Jake DeBrusk. That was part of the thinking behind the Bruins’ decision to ship David Backes, Axel Andersson and a 2020 first round pick to Anaheim for Kase.
Kase was the Ducks’ seventh round-pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and a longshot to make the club. Kase hung around to play 198 NHL games with the Ducks. Last season he played in 49 games with seven goals and 14 assists before coming to Boston. He played in six games with the Bruins and registered one assist.
“We all knew we were going to come back and play a season and now it is here,” said Kase. “I think everybody in here is excited to get that first game under their belt and personally for myself, I just want to help the team.”
Roster moves
The Bruins placed Anton Blidh, GregMcKegg, ZachSenyshyn, Paul Carey and Steve Kampher on waivers. They could return to the Bruins practice squad if they clear waivers by noon today. Cassidy revealed that forward CraigSmith will have a role on the Bruins power play.
Great outdoors
The NHL confirmed that the Bruins will participate in the NHL at Lake Tahoe on Feb. 21 in an outdoor event against the Philadelphia Flyers in Stateline, Nevada. The Colorado Avalanche will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the other match. This will be the Bruins’ fourth regular season outdoor game. The Bruins have previously faced the Flyers at Fenway Park, the Canadiens at Gillette Stadium, and the Blackhawks at Notre Dame Stadium.