Maroon gets green light to face Penguins
Pat Maroon is on the road to Pittsburgh and don’t be surprised if you find the “Big Rig” parked in front of the Penguins net on the power play.
The veteran winger is poised to make his Bruins debut Saturday night.
“Yup, I’ll be there,” Maroon said following Friday’s practice at Warrior Arena. It was the first time Maroon participated in every drill as he returns from back surgery. His work included some time on Boston’s second power-play unit.
“Yeah, that’s nice to get a little look there,” said Maroon. “Obviously been on the power play since I’ve been in the league. I didn’t think I would be on the power play here, but it’s nice to get a look here and hopefully I can show what I can do in front of the net.”
Maroon, who acknowledged it feels a little like opening day for him, credited the Bruins training staff with helping him build back.
“It’s been good. The trainers and [rehab coordinator] Scotty [Waugh] have been unbelievable. [Physical therapists] Dusty [Stuck] and Joe [Robinson],just being patient with me and getting me back and making sure I’m healthy and making sure it’s 100 percent right,” he said. “So, we took all the right steps to get me where I need to be and so yeah, I’m excited. This last week was great [to get] extra work in, buy some more time here to get me in a game, so I’m excited to play and obviously we’re playing a Pittsburgh team that’s trying to get to the playoffs; it’s a good start for me. Gets me ready for the playoffs.”
During the five-on-five portion of practice, Maroon played right wing (his off side) on a line with Jesper Boqvist in the middle and Jakub Lauko on the left.
He will be expected to provide the physical presence the club envisioned when it signed Milan Lucic in the offseason.
“I’m sure my timing will be horse-bleep but I don’t know,” Maroon said with a laugh. “Practice is practice. It’s never game-like. Obviously battle drills are more game-like and three-on-two rushes, but I think getting into games with the speed and picking pucks up off the wall, making plays on the wall, making plays in the D-zone, that’s all going to come naturally, but sometimes timing’s going to be off a little bit. I’m assuming my timing will be off, but hopefully not too bad. I’m not the fastest skater so my hands and vision have usually got me through where I’m at now, so I’ve just got to use that and protect the puck and hopefully the game just flows.”
Sweeney adds side gigs
General manager Don Sweeney was named to the same post for Team Canada for next year’s NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and assistant GM for the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
In a statement, Sweeney said he was “honored and appreciative of the opportunity” and thanked the Jacobs family and team president Cam Neely for their “support of my role with Team Canada.”
The appointments didn’t surprise coach Jim Montgomery, who gave a glowing review of his two years working with Sweeney.
“Incredibly prepared, incredibly hardworking, incredibly bright. I think when he goes home, he sleeps in that Iron Man outfit because he probably only needs an hour of sleep a day and then he comes out and he just starts running,” said the coach. “I’m amazed at the man and the job he does. Just look at our lineup, right?
“No one thought we would be the team we are, and I think not enough credit gets to him.”
Injury updates
Kevin Shattenkirk will draw back into the lineup against the Penguins, in part because of the veteran defenseman’s ability to run point on the second power-play unit . . . Defenseman Derek Forbort, who is on long-term injured reserve, practiced in a noncontact jersey but was very active throughout the session. “Hopefully he’s a possibility [at some point in the playoffs],” said Montgomery . . . Mason Lohrei participated in the first part of practice before departing early. The rookie defenseman was later assigned to Providence . . . Justin Brazeau, who suffered a right arm injury during the win in Nashville April 2, did some conditioning skating with assistant coach John McLean before practice.