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Taking positives out of the Bruins weekend |
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For as banged up as the Bruins are, and who it is they’re missing, this past weekend was an impressive one for Bruce Cassidy’s club. Earning three of a possible four points in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, the Bruins have something to hang their hats on.
The weekend was far from perfect as a whole, but the wounded Bruins did just enough to force overtime on Friday in Dallas for a point and just enough to hold on for a win Saturday in Arizona for two more.
The Bruins scored just two goals over the weekend. But thanks to some great goaltending, that was all that was required to earn themselves three points.
Tuukka Rask made 36 saves on 37 shots on Friday, while Jaroslav Halak made 32 saves on 33 shots on Saturday.
"It was nice getting the point in Dallas, but they [Dallas] kind of took it to us. We were on our heels too much, but I thought we came out and had a great start, [against Arizona] let our foot off the gas pedal a little in the second, but really liked our third period,” said defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. “Competing on the ice and trying to make the right plays. I think we were rewarded for a good effort tonight [Saturday]."
The team was rewarded both on and off the ice for their efforts this weekend. With the team’s next game scheduled for Wednesday in Detroit, the players were given two days off in Arizona before the team jets Monday night to Detroit to prepare for the Red Wings.
"I want the guys to go sit in the sun and enjoy themselves and get some Vitamin D or whatever it is,” said Cassidy. “I think it's good for your soul. Guys have played a lot of hockey lately, so I'd like them to relax and bond a little, get to know each other.”
It will be much easier to relax after a successful weekend. Scoring just two goals—both in Arizona—in two games is not usually a recipe for success in the National Hockey League, but it somehow worked for the Black and Gold.
With Patrice Bergeron out of the lineup for the contest in Arizona, Cassidy was forced to move some bodies around and juggle some lines. I thought the forwards responded well to the changes.
Anders Bjork and David Krejci jumped up to the first line, to the left of David Pastrnak. Brad Marchand and Joakim Nordstrom had new spots next to Jake DeBrusk. Danton Heinen, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Noel Accari made up the third line, while Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly and David Backes made up the fourth.
Scoring for the Bruins on Saturday were Forsbacka Karlson and DeBrusk. The goal was the first of JFK’s career.
“It’s nice to get the first one. When you don’t start thinking about it; when the game gets going, it’s nice to get that out of the way,” said Forsbacka Karlsson. “Hopefully we can keep going from there.”
For DeBrusk, the goal was his eighth of the season, and his fifth in his last six games.
Starting Wednesday, the Bruins enter a stretch of four games in six days, they hope to have some bodies back. Kevan Miller is expected to return from a hand injury on Wednesday and Patrice Bergeron—who was sent back to Boston Sunday—remains day to day.
At this point, the Bruins will take any healthy body back in the lineup.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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