B’s Moore in, Clifton scratched
After hip surgery, waivers, blueliner eyes fresh start
BUFFALO — The Bruins may have been playing only their second game of the year on Wednesday in Philadelphia, but giving up six goals — and the manner in which they were allowed — were unacceptable to coach Bruce Cassidy. Because of that, Cassidy decided to make a switch on the back end, replacing Connor Clifton with veteran John Moore on the third defensive pairing for Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
“I didn’t like the way we defended the other night in terms of keeping the puck out of our net, so Johnny had a good camp, we gave Cliffy first crack at it, so it’s just a bit of a — and we’re not putting it all on Cliffy — it’s a message that if you don’t defend well enough, then we’ll try other people till we get it right. That’s as simple as I can make it,” said Cassidy on Friday morning.
Tasked with being the right-side defensive depth, the left-shooting Moore played very well in camp and, had he been a right shot, perhaps he would have received more consideration to be in the lineup on opening night. The biggest challenge for Moore playing the off-side is being able to handle rim clear attempts on his backhand. But he feels he’s got enough experience and has put in enough homework to be able to handle the task.
“I’m a pretty big student of the game and I like studying guys that have success on their off-side,” said Moore. “I remember a guy like Ron Hainsey, who had lot of success, T.J. Brodie in Toronto. I see their game and I see them under-handling it, I see them using their feet. Those are all things that are I’m trying to bring to my game.”
Moore was solid in 18:47 of icetime, picking up a plus-1 with two shots along with a hit and a blocked shot. He also played 2:41 on he B’s 4-for-4 penalty kill.
It has been a whirlwind few months for Moore. Last March, he had hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and have the top of his femur reshaped so that it fits more cleanly into the hip socket. Then, despite having what looked like a very successful comeback in training camp, Moore and fellow veteran Chris Wagner were placed on waivers as the team had to get down to the 23-man roster limit.
While it seemed unlikely that another team would claim Moore’s contract — he’s due $2.75 million this year and next — Moore conceded it was a difficult time.
“It was a full range of emotions,” said Moore. “I think that is what it is. I really had no control over that decision. It’s a business decision. A step beyond that, I was proud of the way I showed up to camp, proud of the way I competed. I felt that I controlled what I could control. I always talk about signing my work and I felt like I could for what I did in camp. It’s definitely a chip on your shoulder, for sure, and I’ll use it as motivation.”
Despite that chip, Moore said he never hoped that another team would claim him, even it meant a better chance to play. You can credit the captain for him wanting to remain a Bruin, at least in part.
“I remember it happened and, first, obviously you tell your family and wife,” said Moore.
“And then Patrice (Bergeron), within five minutes, he called me and let me know how much I mean to this group. For someone like that — he’s never going to have to go through something like that — but for him to make you feel you’re wanted and you’re valued here … this group has unfinished business and we believe in each other and I want to be a part of that.”
And Moore feels like he’s already accomplished something just by being on the ice.
“It’s been a journey for sure,” said Moore. “I had surgery March 22 in New York on my hip and got out of there in a wheelchair and here I am playing in an NHL game. I’m just celebrating that small victory. I’m up off the mat and I’m ready to go. I’m excited. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of my support network, my family, my wife, my kids. A lot of people helped me behind the scenes to get back here.”
Blidh can’t finish
With Nick Foligno out with an upper body injury (he’ll be re-evaluated when the team returns to Boston), Anton Blidh was inserted into the lineup as the fourth line left wing while Trent Frederic was moved to center. Karson Kuhlman remained the right wing on that line while Tomas Nosek bumped up to take Foligno’s spot on the right wing with center Erik Haula and left wing Jake DeBrusk, though the second and third lines were quickly jumbled.
“Anton is a good penalty killer, can save some wear and tear on guys there,” said Cassidy. “He’s got good pace to affect the forecheck, like (Kuhlman) so there’s good speed on that line. He’ll always give you that. It’s just a matter of him being consistent every night, doing what Kuhlie does when he doesn’t play for shifts, which is stay in the game. And (Blidh) likes to be an agitator, so he’s got to do it in a positive fashion. He can’ be the guy ending up in the box in those situations. That’s something we’ve talked to him about. If he can get us on the power play by getting other guys off their game, then that’s a plus.”
Said Blidh: “I felt like during this preseason, I had two bad penalties. You can say that. You just have to find the right line. What can I do and what can’t I do.”
Blidh, however, did not come out for the third period because of an upper body injury. He’ll be re-evaluated on Saturday.
Power outage
It’s too early to call it a trend but through the first two games, the B’s large shot and territorial advantage in both games did not translate into a plethora of power-play opportunities. They had only four while opponents had eight.
“You would think (the B’s would have more man-advantages), but maybe teams don’t want to put us on the power play. So there’s sometimes maybe the thought of ‘I’m going to give them an extra whack at it in front because I don’t want to put them on the power play,’” said Cassidy. “That usually goes hand in hand, when you have puck possession and you’re going and attacking, you’ll get on it, but again, it’s early in the year. I don’t want to overanalyze it.”
The B’s only saw two on Friday against the Sabres, but they cashed in on one of them . ...
After Nosek was moved up to center Charlie Coyle and Taylor Hall, he was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 10-of-13 draws.