The Bruins have principally acquired all they’ll win inside the widespread season. They captured the Presidents’ Trophy, thus giving them home ice profit all by way of the playoffs.
However with 5 video video games remaining, starting with Thursday’s contest in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the B’s nonetheless ought to compete bodily and put collectively mentally for the oncoming playoffs. And so they’ve causes to level out up for these closing video video games.
First, there stands out as the widespread season wins doc of 62 held by the 1995-96 Detroit Pink Wings and the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, which the membership is now embracing as a way to encourage themselves. The B’s should win three of their closing 5 video video games to surpass that mark.
And rather more immediately, they’d been coping with the Leafs on Thursday and the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, two teams that they might conceivably see inside the second and/or third rounds of the Japanese Convention playoffs.
“There’s quite a lot of worth,” talked about coach Jim Montgomery of the video video games in opposition to Toronto and Jersey. “It ups everyone’s antennas so far as depth and objective and getting to have the ability to take a look at your self on the place you’re at, individually and collectively in opposition to the elite groups within the league.”
How Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe and NJ coach Lindy Ruff technique these video video games is anyone’s guess. Scoring a win over the B’s could suggest further to them than worthwhile could suggest for the B’s. The Devils are 0-2 in opposition to Boston and Toronto was 1-2. However Montgomery talked about he acquired’t go so far as to do any team-specific game-planning for these video video games.
“We’re simply nervous about ourselves and enjoying Bruins hockey, enjoying the most effective model and enjoying the proper means. If we try this, we’re going to be in video games regardless. After which it’s good to see how we deal with whether or not the video games are tight or regardless of the scenario is, how we reply to that,” talked about Montgomery. “We get actually particular concerning the different staff as soon as we all know who we’re enjoying within the playoffs. As a result of to alter our sport – the Leafs and New Jersey are so completely different – if we alter our sport at present after which have to alter our sport once more to a totally completely different sport, you’re not making wrinkles to your sport, you’re going to to play these groups drastically completely different. So… as I’m eager about it, I’m beginning to speak sluggish, so gamers would play sluggish, so now you’re not even within the sport.”
As for the wins doc, the B’s had beforehand maintained that it didn’t matter to them. It was too distant they normally feared it may take their focus away from their day-to-day course of. However now that it’s almost inside their grasp, they may as properly go for it.
“We’ve talked brazenly about it that now that it’s such a brief time period, solely 5 video games, that chasing historical past helps us mentally put together for the playoffs,” talked about Montgomery. “We predict profitable begets profitable. If we had 4 wins much less, we wouldn’t have the chance and it’s perhaps not as straightforward to stand up for the video games. The common season we’ve had to this point goes to assist us for the playoffs. That’s how we’re taking a look at it.”
Mentioned Charlie Coyle: “Generally there are these little lulls the place you’re already solidified in a spot and the way do you retain that focus, how do you virtually present challenges for your self? And that’s one there that may hold us motivated and provides us one thing to attempt for. Yeah, it’s not the top of the world if we get there or not. You develop up and also you wish to win a Cup, proper? In order that’s the principle factor. However these little issues alongside the way in which are solely good issues which you could add to your resume. I feel as a staff, it reveals quite a lot of what we’re able to and what we’ve completed this 12 months.” …
Frozen 4 feelings
With sturdy illustration from Boston College (Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy and A.J. Greer), the Frozen 4 was a large topic of dialog inside the B’s locker room Thursday morning. However Quinnipiac’s Connor Clifton was proudly carrying his faculty colors after the morning skate.
“It creeps me out generally,” joked Clifton of the entire Terriers inside the room.
Montgomery acquired an NCAA title as a participant with Maine and as a coach with Denver and he’s nonetheless very lots a fan.
“It’s the top. I’m curious to see. I’m an enormous fan of (BU coach and former Bruin assistant) Jay Pandolfo and his fashion of teaching and I’m excited to see his group – it’s the primary time any of these gamers have been in a Frozen 4 – how they deal with the large second,” talked about Montgomery. “As a result of they’re going to be in entrance of 18,000 individuals and so they’re going to be enjoying the No. 1 staff on the nation (Minnesota), so it’s an enormous alternative. Win or lose, that program goes to develop and get higher. After which to see the 2 Huge 10 groups which have essentially the most expertise on paper, Minnesota and Michigan, and to see how Quinnipiac and BU do in opposition to these groups, the battle inside the sport, the sport inside the sport. It’s the momentum swings and the way individuals deal with the momentum swings. In faculty hockey, you don’t have seven video games. You may have one sport, and you’ve got to have the ability to be capable of put something that’s occurred, good or unhealthy, behind you.”
As Greer was waxing poetically about BU, former Black Bear Jeremy Swayman chirped, “A.J., you performed there for 2 months,” to which Greer responded “Is Maine even D1?”
For the doc, Greer did go away early in his sophomore season, nonetheless he’s merely two programs shy of his diploma. …
Day without work
Whereas the B’s weren’t treating Thursday’s sport as a throwaway, they’d been exercising precaution. David Krejci (lower physique) was being held out for the second straight sport and Taylor Corridor, out since Feb. 25, was not however cleared to play, talked about Montgomery.
