Bruins grab Orlov, Hathaway from Caps
The Bruins did some one-stopshoppingfortheir stretch run that they hope will end sometime in June.
A week ahead of the March 3 trade deadline, Gmdonsweeneyfortified both the blue line and the bottom six forward corps by obtaining defenseman Dmitry Orlov and rugged right wing Garnet Hathawayforcraigsmith—who wasonanexpiringcontract andmostlikelyheadedout of the lineup when the Bruins got fully healthy — and three picks, Boston's 2023 first-rounder, a 2025 second-rounder and a 2024 third-round pick. Both Orlov and Hathaway are 31.
The team was already a Stanley Cup favorite and there is little doubt that they got better — and nastier. And they have felt the latter. Two years ago, Orlov delivered a high hit thatknockedformerbruin Kevan Miller out of the playoffsinthebruins-capitals playoff series. And in January of last season, Hathaway knocked Brad Marchand out of game with an edgy hit that, like the Orlov shot, was not penalized.
The5-foot-11,215-pound Orlov is a solid defender who can pitch in offensively. He was second on the Caps in ice time with 22:43, has played some on both the penalty kill and power play and had 3-1619 totals in 43 games. The 6-3,208-poundhathaway, a Maine native and Brown alum, has 9-7-16 totals in 59 games and has averaged 12:06inicetime,whilealso seeing time on the PK.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney used the word “anxiety” for what the new players bring with their physical presence.
“Overall I think our group does a really good job of responding to physical challenges and we can play any type of game. We try to play up-tempo in all facets of our game. Dmitry and Garnet will add to that element,” said Sweeney on a Zoom call on Thursday. “And again, we're just trying to fortify and add to our team, to address the physicality or how we're goingtoplay.it'sup-tempo. But it's really trying to play any style. I don't think there'saplayeronourteam that doesn't acknowledge that you're going to go through physical battles andthewarofattritionthat the playoffs represent. It's time to go to work.”
At Seattle, Jake Debrusk scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:38 left in the third period. The win avenged Boston's first regulation home loss of the season, which was a 3-0 defeat to Seattle back on Jan. 12, still the only time Boston has been shut out this year.
Seattle's Matty Beniers scoredjust40secondsinto the game, and the teams went back and forth the rest of the way.
Jaden Schwartz put Seattle ahead 5-4 at 15:50 of the third period. Brandon Carlo tied it less than 30 seconds later. Debrusk scored the go-ahead goal at 18:22.