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Shaking things up *UPDATED: Marchand suspended |
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*Updated 5:45 PM
Brad Marchand has been suspended for three games following his slew foot on Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Even when he’s not scoring, if Jake DeBrusk is on his game, you’ll notice it. It’s then you’ll see him moving his feet and using his size and speed to create time and space for his linemates.
Lately, there’s been none of that. Nor none of the other little things DeBrusk needs to do to stay in the lineup, especially when he’s not putting the puck in the net.
Along with Erik Haula, DeBrusk was a healthy scratch Sunday as the Bruins topped the Canucks 3-2. It was the first healthy scratch of the season for DeBrusk.
“We understand certain guys can be physical when they’re not scoring; bring something to the game and for him, it’s foot speed. I’d like to see that every night,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.
“I’d like to see him impact the game with his foot speed every night, whether it’s forecheck or attacking the net, penalty kill, whatever the case may be. That’s kind of where we’re at and we’re starting to see that drop-off again.”
After struggling both on and the off the ice in last year’s COVID-shortened season, DeBrusk got off to a nice start in the preseason with two goals in three games. DeBrusk carried that play into the start of the regular season, scoring twice in the team’s first four games.
Since then, his play has dipped, scoring just once in his last 13 games. He has three assists in that span. On top of the lack of offensive production, his all-around game has taken a hit. He’s back to failing to do what he must do to stay in the lineup.
Similar actions to years past.
“I think what happens with Jake and what we’ve seen over the last few years is that when the production is there, you’re getting more second effort. They kind of go hand and hand and when it’s not there, we lose a little bit of that, and that’s been the ask of him for a number of years now,” Cassidy said.
Like DeBrusk, Haula is struggling to produce offensively and is having a hard time doing the right things away from the puck.
“I just think [Haula’s] game right now, you know, we need more compete out of him, said Cassidy. “He was signed to anchor that line and it hasn’t worked out as well as we’d like.”
With Haula and DeBrusk watching from above, Trent Frederic and Karson Kuhlman were back in the lineup. Frederic centered Kuhlman and Nick Foligno, returning to the lineup after missing seven games with a concussion.
"He had some good opportunities between the rings, so I like that. He was around the puck, skating better in the middle, obviously a little more freedom to move around,” Cassidy said of Frederic’s night. "But I liked his game in there. I thought he was fine and did a good job.”
A line that features Frederic and Foligno together provides the Bruins with a much needed heavy, physical line. One that allows Kuhlman to utilize his speed more often and hopefully it will transition to offensive success.
"I thought Kuhlman was skating well. Every time we put him in, he seems to have a good motor, had a couple of looks down the wing, so he complemented them well,” said Cassidy. “I liked the third line. I thought they played solid for us."
With the struggles of DeBrusk and Haula, nights like the third line had are exactly what the coaching staff is looking for.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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