Bruins notebook: While Power Play hasn’t been entirely awful, it still needs to result in
On Tuesday, the Bruins were 0 for 6 on the power play.
The power play of the Bruins is struggling a little.
The Bruins are 1 for 17 while using the man advantage in the four games played since the All-Star break, and their lone goal came during a 5-on-3 in a 4-1 defeat to Calgary. When the PP went 0-for-6 in their 3-2 shootout loss to the Tampa Lightning on Tuesday, the drought cost them dearly.
In the second part of Wednesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, the Bruins, as usual, used the same lineups for man advantage drills (without David Pastrnak, who was granted a day off; Kevin Shattenkirk filled in for him on the left elbow). Coach Jim Montgomery noted that he has changed players in the past and that, depending on the faceoff, he will still substitute Pavel Zacha for Charlie Coyle.
Montgomery stated, “I think we’re really comfortable with the other four,” referring to James van Riemsdyk, Brad Marchand, Pastrnak, and Charlie McAvoy.
He believes that their current lack of success is a result of the way they are approaching the attack.
Montgomery remarked, “We were just getting back to our structure.” “Before practice, Coach (Chris) Kelly met with them and played video of them rolling. Lately, he’s shown us how important it is to work as a team during breakouts, execute our entry passes, and move the puck quickly to score areas.”
Although Tuesday’s O-fer was expensive, not all of the work was unfavorable. During the first power play of the game, the Bruins were in the offensive zone for about two minutes, but they failed to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. Their final man-advantage in regulation had its chances too, following two nervous man-advantages in the third.
They won’t be able to make up the lost standings point, but it should put a stop to a significant revamp.
“In the last several weeks or so, we haven’t experienced the same level of success that we did earlier in the year. However, I thought we had some nice movement and some good looks online and were continuing to do more of the things we had been doing all year to make us successful on Tuesday night, van Riemsdyk said. “I believe it really comes down to playing within the rules and choosing what possibilities are available. Therefore, I believe it’s a tight balance between being predictable to one another and having a variety of alternatives available to us so that we can anticipate the next move if teams are attempting to take different things away. When we have individuals on the power play who are adept at handling the puck.
Although Van Riemsdyk technically did not score on Tuesday’s power play, he did tie the game when the Bruins added an additional attacker due to a delayed penalty. Though not for want of opportunity, it was the type of goal that has defined his career: a precise put-back of a rebound. This year, for some reason, it has become increasingly uncommon. It marks his lowest shooting percentage in his career, at 8.3%.
That’s been an intriguing aspect of it. Van Riemsdyk, who has nine goals this season, stated, “I felt like I’ve had some good looks around the net and felt like I could have a few more goals right now.” However, given how competitive the playoffs are this time of year, I believe that ultimately, goals like that become more crucial. Since there aren’t many opportunities outside of the rush, this is the perfect time of year to focus on it and recognize its significance. It’s obviously a really key component of my game, so I have to make sure to go where the correct opportunities present themselves and give it my all there.
Rolling with Richard: Montgomery announced that he intends to examine Anthony Richard once more when the Seattle Kraken visit him on Thursday.
“I see a player who has provided us with some of the necessary attributes, such as speed, puck tenacity, and rebounding and getting back.” I appreciate how his game is evolving,” Montgomery remarked. “He has done an excellent job of forechecking. Off the single forecheck, he made the brilliant pass to Trent Frederic. We’ll see how he develops more, but I believe he will become more at ease.
Richard’s 5-foot-10 frame made it difficult for him to get pucks out of the wall during a few long stints in the Boston zone.
Montgomery questioned, “The best role model you can have is Brad Marchand, right? The defensive zone is a five-man unit.” “Yet he is here, carrying out routines and specifics. When I watch him in practice, he stops and performs the powerful side winger role that we desire. We will keep working on the stick location and other issues. However, considering that he has never played a zone system before, he has made great development.
pucks that are loose
After receiving a hit from Victor Hedman along the boards late in the second period on Tuesday, Pastrnak exited the game in discomfort. He returned to play in the third period and declared himself well after the game. Montgomery stated he had more to do with his minutes on his maintenance day.
He performed last night at 22:24. I just wanted to back off him because when you play that many minutes, there usually is a little pain in the muscles,” Montgomery remarked.
According to the Department of Unequal Justice, Linus Ullmark was fined $5,000 by the NHL for high-sticking Michael Eyssimont of Tampa. Before that high stick, there was a shoulder/elbow to Ullmark’s head, for which there was no fine or the two-minute minor that should have been given.
He performed last night at 22:24. I just wanted to back off him because when you play that many minutes, there usually is a little pain in the muscles,” Montgomery remarked.
When GM Don Sweeney was spotted entering an office with soon-to-be UFA Jake DeBrusk, antennae went up. Of course, they could have been talking about anything, but seeing the GM having a meeting with a player is not something that happens frequently. And when that athlete needs a new contract, well, it makes people take notice. However, there was no sign of an extension as of Wednesday afternoon.