It’s looking like Pat Maroon time for the Bruins
With the Bruins for just over a month, Saturday night in Pittsburgh is expected to come with Pat Maroon finally in uniform and on the ice for his first taste game of action with the club.
In action for a full, lengthy (by April standards) practice with the club on Friday, and with just three games left in the regular season, Maroon has checked off just about every box that the Bruins want him to between now and puck drop.
“He looked good [Friday]. Best he’s looked,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said of Maroon. “We’re very cautious before saying yes, he is [playing]. We got to see how he responds [Saturday]. That was a 40 minute practice. He took part in every drill for the first time on a regular rotation. So we’ll see how he is tomorrow morning. It’s progressing well.”
And though Montgomery won’t say it definitively, Maroon did it himself in a post-practice chat.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” Maroon said of his status for Saturday.
The Bruins had always circled Apr. 13 in Pittsburgh as Maroon’s ‘best case scenario’ for Maroon to make his B’s debut, and that has become a near-certainty after a week-long ramp-up with the training staff.
“The trainers and [Bruins manager of player rehabilitation] Scotty Waugh have been unbelievable; Dusty [Stuck] and Joe [Robinson]. Just being patient with me and getting me back and making sure I’m healthy and making sure it’s 100% right,” Maroon said of his recovery timeline. “We had all the right steps [and] we took all the right steps in to get me where I need to be. I’m excited that this last week was great. You know, [we put] extra work in, buy some more time here to get me in a game here. So I’m excited.
“And obviously we’re playing a Pittsburgh team that’s trying to get in the playoffs. So it’s a good start for me [that] gets me ready for the playoffs here.”
Whether or not three games is a enough of a ramp-up to get Maroon truly playoff-ready is its own question, but it’s one that the veteran Maroon isn’t going to worry about with the playoffs around the corner.
“I think it’s all mental,” Maroon offered. “It’s all in your head. We’re professional athletes. I think we know what we need and what we don’t need. But I’ve been here before. I’ve done it. Just got to go out there and just play my game. I can’t worry about what’s it like or how many games I’m playing. I know what I need to do, and I know what I need to bring to the team.”
Maroon, who has not played since Jan. 27, came to the Bruins with four goals and 16 points in 49 games with Minnesota this season.
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Matt & Ty are back with a brand-new episode on the Bruins, WrestleMania, and more.
(0:50) Opening banter on WrestleMania and Matt’s whole trip to Philadelphia.
(17:21) Discussing the Bruins’ recent loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
(23:06) Looking at other possible playoff opponents for the Bruins.
(27:43) Reacting to the Bruins’ apparent decision to alternate goalies to start the playoffs.
(44:45) Other players the guys would like to see step up in the playoffs.
(56:51) Matt & Ty draft their “Big 3” disappointments.
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