Vaakanainen comes through in end
Young defenseman shakes off late penalty
Just what kind of NHL player Urho Vaakanainen will be is not yet clear. But contrary to what many believed up until just a couple of weeks ago, he is at least beginning to look like he’s rounding into pro form.
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
Playing in his fifth straight game Saturday since being called up, the B’s first-round pick from 2017 (18th overall) continued to play well in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime win over Nashville on Saturday and show off a burgeoning confidence.
And it was tested.
The 23-year-old Vaakanainen took a tripping penalty against a forechecking Matt Duchene with 6:26 left in regulation, an infraction that was more bad luck and bad timing than it was a bad penalty. Vaakanainen had tried to clear the puck up along the boards but Duchene blocked it and skated into the young defenseman’s stick, drawing the call.
The B’s were able to kill that off for Vaakanainen and then he paid back his teammates with a solid play in overtime leading the Taylor Hall‘s winning goal. Tanner Jeannot attempted to sift a pass through Vaakanainen that, if it had gotten through, could have created a gamewinning play for the Predators. Instead, Vaakanainen picked it off, quickly transitioned up to David Pastrnak and Hall finished off the play and the game.
“He’s a good player, he’s just got to understand it’s an every-night business at this level,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “We certainly will allow guys to make mistakes and we understand their youth. We’ve done it over the years with a lot of guys who are mainstays now, from (Charlie) McAvoy, (Matt) Grzelcyk ,( Brandon) Carlo ,( David) Pastrnak, Jake (DeBrusk) only spent one year in Providence and has worked his way through.
There’s a number of different guys who have all done it, and he’ll be another one. If he can outplay his competition then he’ll get his opportunity.
“But it’s nice to see him do well because we’re kind of at that point where you’re wondering after a few years. He’s not like a kid anymore, where he’s a first-year pro. He’s seen it. Time to start doing it. Opportunity arose. Some guys kick the door down. Other guys kind of gently step through it. And I think he’s somewhere in between and he’s doing a good job. He’s going to make it a difficult decision when we’re 100 percent healthy. That’s what we want as an organization. You need that circle of life when the young guys come in.”
In five games, Vaakanainen has four assists (he had what was believed to be his first NHL goal against Montreal later given to Curtis Lazar) and after his plus-2 performance on Saturday, he’s plus-6.
“It’s really good to see a guy come in and play like he belongs right off the bat,” said Hall. “That speaks probably to his off-season training, his development as a player throughout the last couple of years – a guy that comes into the lineup and plays to the best of his abilities. That’s all you can really ask for, just be the best version of you. He can see the ice. He’s a really good penalty killer, he’s physical when he needs to be…He and (Oskar) Steen have fit in seamlessly. That’s what you need as the season goes on, you need guys who can come in and give you a jolt.”
Words of wisdom
After the entertaining win, the B’s eighth in nine games since the break, Cassidy was asked if he was having fun.
“Fun is not usually equated with the word ‘coach’ a lot. We’re kind of crusty at times,” joked Cassidy.
Then he relayed a story from when he was playing
for coach Darryl Sutter for the Indianapolis Ice in the old IHL.
After a loss upended a win streak, Sutter went into the room and wrote three things on the board.
“Work. Win. And have fun,” said Cassidy. “And he said ‘don’t mess up the order.’”
This and that
Cassidy said that he”ll most likely alternate Tuukka Rask and Linus Ullmark, who made 26 saves for the victory on Saturday, at least to start.
“I think that would be our first thought. Get them both
work, especially with the schedule. If one passes the other, then you look at that and go from there,” said Cassidy. …
The B’s had a rare off outing in the dot, winning 29 draws and losing 45. The only player with a winning percentage was Brad Marchand (2-for-3). Patrice Bergeron, who’s had some dominant games lately, was 14 of 32. …
After a couple of tough games after coming back from a lower body injury, McAvoy looked more like himself. In 27:44 of ice time, he delivered six hits, picked up a helper, landing three shots and blocked three.