Coach: B’s need to up their game
DeBrusk expected to return in Nashville
The Bruins are in a slump, and it’s more than a “relatively speaking” kind of slump.
Yes, the B’s are still comfortably in charge of the Atlantic Division with an 11-point lead over the secondplace Maple Leafs and they have a seven-point advantage over the Carolina Hurricanes for the Eastern Conference and Presidents’ Trophy.
But they’ve lost four out of five games and, in those four losses, they’ve scored just seven goals. The way coach Jim Montgomery sees it, it’s not so much that his B’s have slipped so much as it is other teams have raised their game.
When asked a specific question about where rookie Jakob Lauko’s head might be at after being benched after his gamechanging turnover in Saturday’s loss, Montgomery used the opportunity to address his team’s overall focus and intensity.
“In general, I didn’t like the way our team responded to the physicality of Washington,” said Montgomery, whose team will face the Western Conference-leading Stars in Dallas on Tuesday. “All year, we’ve been a close-knit group and we’ve backed each other up. And anytime we’ve been pushed, we push back. We’re usually a team that initiates, doesn’t retaliate, and I thought our team was in a retaliatory mood. We weren’t initiating. The temperature in the league has gone up. There’s teams that are desperate … the last game bothers me the most, but before the break, people were playing more desperate than us. I think the game on Saturday, we win a month ago. But teams have upped their intensity because they have more desperation, they have more on the line. And we’ve got to realize we have more on the line and we have to match that so we can keep having success right now. And you just can’t go from having an average temperature in intensity and desperation and urgency and go into the playoffs. We’ve got to build toward that. And we need to catch up to the league there.”
The fact that other teams have caught up to the B’s in certain areas has manifested itself in different ways. Over-passing, which was part of their undoing against Washington, can not only lead to good scoring chances dying on the vine, but the puck can go the other way in a hurry.
“We showed a lot of film today on some of that but more importantly, it’s the habits that get us creating more offense,” said Montgomery. “You look at the games that we’ve lost, it’s zero, one or two goals for … you can’t have that happen … and expect to win in the playoffs. So that’s what we’re trying to focus on. And the other area is the odd-man rushes we’re giving up. Again, we gave up seven against Washington. It’s too many. It was two breakaways, two 2-on1s and a couple of 3-on-2s. We only had four odd-man rushes and they were all 4-on-3s. It’s hard to score on 4-on-3s.”
The power play needs a breakthrough as well. After an 0-for-4 game against the Capitals (to be fair, three of those were abbreviated), the B’s PP drought is at an 0-for-17 skid.
“We need quicker puck movement and we need more loose puck retrievals,” said Montgomery. “We’re just not working right now and it’s a little stagnant.”
DeBrusk probably for Nashville
The B’s should get some help on this quick two-game trip to Dallas and Nashville. Jake DeBrusk, out since suffering a thumb injury and broken fibula in the Winter Classic, was a full participant in Monday’s practice. Montgomery said he’s doubtful for Dallas but probable for Nashville.
“Obviously feel is the biggest thing. I’m going to try and minimize risk as much as possible,” said DeBrusk. “I’m not sure what the official word is but I’m definitely going on this road trip and going to try and play as fast as I can.”
DeBrusk confirmed that he injured the leg on Matt Grzelcyk’s shot that hit him just before he scored the equalizer in the Winter Classic, and not when he stretched out to block Evgeni Malkin’s shot that went in the net a split second after the game ended.
“I was devastated because I thought they tied the game. I’m like, ‘I can’t get up. This is brutal.’ And then I saw everyone come in, so it was mix of emotion at the time,” said DeBrusk.
The B’s went 9-1 in the first 10 games without DeBrusk, but he’s been missed lately.
“We’re missing speed, his ability to track down pucks, whether it’s on the forecheck or more importantly, stripping guys from behind, creating odd-man rush looks,” said Montgomery. “That’s what we miss from him, whether it’s with the puck or without the puck. He creates more odd-man rushes for us.”
Sibling trip
Instead of a mom’s or dad’s trip, the B’s are taking a sibling on the two-city tour. Brad Marchand is taking his younger brother Jeff, who told a tall tale about his brother.
“He’s big into poetry. Loves poetry, Shakespeare, reading, writing. He’s in poetry clubs,” said Jeff, who couldn’t keep a straight face for long.
“No, a true story, back in the day, Brad had a rule. No one was allowed to touch me, except for him. So when we were playing hockey on the same teams, if I got hit by anybody, he was the first person out there and would run them through the boards — then we’d get home and he’d beat me up himself.”
Charlie McAvoy is bringing his older sister Kayla, who is interning with the New York Rangers while she’s studying exercise science at Queens College.
“It’s a throwback,” said Kayla of the trip. “It kind of reminds me of coming along for the ride on all those weekend tournament trips, but it’s a lot bigger stakes.”
Trade talk
With trade talk heating up — the B’s have been linked to Arizona’ Jakob Chychrun and Vancouver’s Luke Schenn in recent days and weeks — Montgomery said he meets with GM Don Sweeney regularly to discuss who might be a fit in the lineup.
“I believe we can do really well with the lineup we have as is. So I think that puts us in a good negotiating position to see if we can upgrade. That’s my own personal feeling,” said Montgomery.