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Thursday Bruins thoughts

March 7, 2019, 11:35 AM ET [19 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Bruins host the Florida Panthers Thursday night, looking to extend their point streak to 18 games, and winning streak to four.

Facing a surging Hurricanes squad on Tuesday, the Bruins fell behind 2-0, before storming back to tie the game on goals by Chris Wagner and Jake DeBrusk. After trading a pair of goals from there, overtime was needed to decide a winner with David Krejci netting the game-winner.

Here are some random Bruins thoughts as the Bruins prepare for the Panthers.

Chris Wagner continues to exceed expectations

Head coach Bruce Cassidy claims that when the team signed Wagner to a two-year deal this summer, they expected the Walpole, Massachusetts native to pot around 10-12 goals. Even after scoring his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday, Wagner has certainly exceeded anyone’s expectations.

“We figured he could get to 10, 12 goals if he played 13, 14, 15 minutes, “said Cassidy. “Doesn’t mean he’s going to do it, but we hoped he would with a little more opportunity. And he’s taken advantage of it, so I don’t where he’ll end up, but I think he’s at 10 now, but clearly past the previous season.”

Wagner has already set a career high in goals with 10, points with 16, and is three assists shy of matching his career high of nine assists.

Wagner, alongside Sean Kurlay and Noel Acciari have provided the Bruins with one of the best fourth lines in hockey. Cassidy has not hesitated to throw the three out there in any situation, and more often than not, the line has done what the coaching staff has asked.

After Accari, Kuraly and Tim Schaller a season ago provided similar success to this year’s trio, the transition from Schaller to Wagner has been smooth. Last season the trio combined for 28 goals. Through 66 games, the Bruins current fourth line has combined for 19 goals.

Wagner is averaging 1.81 goals for per 60 minutes.

David Backes is taking on a different role

With the offensive production lacking, Backes knows that his spot in the everyday lineup is not secure. Knowing that Backes has taken up a bit of a different role.

After Marcus Johansson—more on that in a bit—was knocked out of Tuesday’s game after a big, but clean hit from Michael Ferland, Backes once again was the one coming to the aid of a teammate.

The fighting major was Backes’ third in four games.

“You have to stick up for your teammates. Whether it was a liberty taken or you know, tonight’s hit which was a hard, clean hit, but if guys are running at our skilled guys we need to hold them accountable and I thought there was an opportunity for me to step up and you know, fill that role,” Backes said following Tuesday’s victory.

Given Backes’ history with concussions, he’s probably one of the last guys you want to see dropping the gloves. But after a conversation with Cassidy during the Bruins successful west coast trip last month, Backes’ role with the team was ironed out.

“I asked Butchy [Cassidy] when we were in Vegas and we had a meeting if I could be put in roles or places that would have a bigger impact on games,” said Backes. “And you know, whether that’s with my gloves off or my gloves on I think he’s provided me those opportunities and hopefully I’ve done my job for him.”

If this is the road Backes wants to go down, he’s not worried about his previous concussion issues.

“My wife probably does, but that can’t be a thought in your head when you’re out playing in the NHL,” said Backes. “But I think the game is – you look at the stats and you’re not as prone to concussions actually fighting as you are from whiplash or side hits or shoulders to the face or elbows to the face.”

The Jake DeBrusk/David Krejci chemistry is real

The chemistry between Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are seemingly second to none. The chemistry between DeBrusk and Krejci seems to be getting there, too.

Teaming up for Tuesday’s overtime game-winning goal showed as much. After DeBrusk bullied Hurricanes’ defenseman Justin Faulk and stole the puck off his stick, DeBrusk found Krejci streaking in, hitting him with a tape-to-tape pass, resulting in the overtime tally.

A game-winning goal for the Bruins, was just another day at the office for a red hot DeBrusk and his favorite linemate.

“Yeah, I think when you play with a guy for almost two years now, you generate that with just games played and different things like that,” said DeBrusk. “I could’ve found him a couple times tonight and I was saying I owed him one, so it was nice for us to connect there at the end there. Great move by him.”

DeBrusk has completely taken over the Bruins offense in the absence of David Pastrnak, as he enters Thursday’s contest with eight goals in his last 10 games.

Brando Carlo getting things done in both ends of the ice

On Tuesday, Carlo had a game and career-high nine shots on goal, firing off 11 shots in total. Carlo has been playing with more confidence of late, especially in the offensive zone. The rebound that Wagner pounced on to open the scoring for the Bruins Tuesday came off of one of Carlo’s nine shots on goal.

“Brent Burns, yeah he did his best impersonation and I thought it was great,” Cassidy said. “He’s getting up and down the ice and feeling more confident and he can certainly separate.”

Carlo’s 88 shots tie him with John Moore for second on the team among defensemen. Only Torey Krug and his 127 shots have more.

I think all-around Carlo’s game has taken a big step forward as he continues to grow into a solid top-four defenseman. In his last 10 games, Carlo has been on the ice for 11 goals for, and just four allowed, while picking up four assists.

Bruins avoid a major injury with Marcus Johansson

Things did not look too good for Johansson as was lying on the ice after his collision with Ferland on Tuesday. But after getting his test results back from Massachusetts General Hospital Wednesday, it sounds like Johansson has avoided a major injury.

"Marcus Johansson was brought to the Massachusetts General Hospital during the game against Carolina on March 5 for evaluation. Testing revealed a lung contusion. He was monitored overnight and was discharged today after further evaluation by specialists,” the Bruins said in a statement Wednesday.

He will be re-evaluated in approximately one week."

I am no doctor, and admittedly don’t know a thing about lungs, contusions, nor lung contusions. But what initially looked like a shoulder, collarbone or head injury, a lung contusion sounds like better news than expected.

If all goes well for Johansson, he should hopefully be back in the lineup by the end of the month.
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