Frederic a presence for Bruins
Rookie ‘starting to annoy people,’ Cassidy says
After the Bruins’ strong 4-1 win Sunday, Trent FreDeriC was asked if he was jealous of NiCk RitChie for getting to throw punches with the Rangers’ BrenDan Lemieux.
The rugged rookie broke into what has become his trademark grin.
“A little bit,” said Frederic with a laugh. “It was pretty cool. Fun to watch. Hopefully I get another shot at, um, 48, and I don’t know. We’ll see. I don’t have enough goals for him, I guess.”
Frederic tangled with Lemieux earlier this season in a fight the Bruin was not happy about after the Ranger starting throwing punches before Frederic got his gloves off. So it’s a pretty good bet he was practicing the art of some subtle trash talk by not deigning to utter his name.
And, no, Frederic, does not have a ton of goals (2). But he did produce the game-winner in the B’s win Sunday, a greasy goal in which he went to the net and deflected home a Connor CliFton shot late in the first period.
Coach BruCe CassiDy appreciates both the disciplined moxie (he has just one minor penalty,
taken in garbage time Thursday on Long Island) and the player that’s emerging. He complimented Frederic after the game in a way only hockey folks would get.
“Yeah, he’s starting to annoy people,” said Cassidy. “He’s a big body who can back it up. We’re seeing some growth in his game. We’re seeing some points. He’s around the puck a lot more. He’s shooting more. It’s a good thing for our team and it’s as advertised. We knew when he was drafted that he was going to be a big body that could play inside. He needed some developing and now you’re seeing the edge to his game. You never know who’s going to be vocal on the ice and who’s going to be quiet. He’s certainly vocal now, getting people’s attention and willing to back it up. So you need players like that. It’s a long year. You need energy in different ways. And if that’s what makes him a better player, then we’re all for it, as long as he doesn’t cross the line. Or when he does, we reel him in. So far I think it’s been done with a great amount of discipline and he’s gotten better in every stretch of 10 games. That’s what you hope for.”
The road trip finished better than it started for Frederic. His turnover in front of the B’s net Thursday was the start of a thirdperiod collapse against the Islanders.
“Not every game is perfect,” said Frederic. “There’s a lot of bumps in the road, but the guys and the coaching staff have been great in supporting me through the good times and the bad. It’s nice. So hopefully I can keep playing hard and helping this team win games.”
He knows his career is still in its infancy and he’s still trying to find his way.
“Throughout however many games I played, I probably haven’t figured it all out yet, but guys are just smart players,” said Frederic. “Guys don’t give you as much room out there and it’s all about creating that space and figure out what your game is.”
Blueline tweaks work some magic
Cassidy made some adjustments on the back end that worked. He moved Jakub Zboril up to the top pair with Charlie McAvoy, put Clifton on his off-side with Brandon Carlo and moved Urho Vaakanainen to a third pair with Steven Kampfer, who replaced John Moore. Zboril was steady in 18:39 of ice time.
“Sometimes you get two puck-movers on a pair and they can be effective as well if they’re able to get past that first wave of forecheck. Then forwards are getting pucks from both D in good spots, you’re getting out of your end and maybe making some plays in the Ozone,” said Cassidy. ”
While Vaakanainen may have been dropped on the depth chart, he still saw 21:21 of ice time – second to only McAvoy – and played well in his role, posting a plus-2 and blocking a teamhigh six shots.
Cassidy taps McKegg
Greg McKegg, signed as a free agent in the offseason, saw his first game action of the season. Karson Kuhlman also went into the lineup as Anders Bjork and Chris Wagner took a seat.
“We just feel that now’s the time to A, get a look at (McKegg) and B, shake it up a little bit so that people understand the value of being in the lineup every night as well. It’s a little bit of both,” said Cassidy before the game.
While McKegg and Kuhlman were on the ice for the only goal against, McKegg had three shots on net, three hits and won three of four faceoffs. Kuhlman had two shots and two hits.
No puck luck
Jack Studnicka has been all around the net lately, but he can’t seem to get anything to go. He was stopped on a partial breakaway and then Alexandar Georgiev stoned him on a Grade-A chance late in the second period. The rookie did have some trouble in the faceoff circle, however, winning just four-of-15.