It’s just one game, but the competition is getting real for the Bruins and some Bruins hopefuls.
Fresh off Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers, the (preseason) Bruins will get back on the horse Tuesday night when they play host to the visiting Capitals at TD Garden. For some of the players, it’s their first chance at showing a reloaded B’s coaching staff what they can do, while others will look to continue their positive momentum or just build some in the first place.
“Most teams, you want to give the opportunity to see how your young players are doing and how they’re doing, how they’re developing, and have them push the envelope for you,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said. “Towards the end of camp is when we’re going to field of more of a Bruins that you would expect lineup. I like getting a lot of practice habits in with our veteran players early, and then you’ll see them start to play games later as we march on.”
Here’s five players to watch when the puck drops on preseason game No. 2….
Tyler Johnson
Feb 19, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Tyler Johnson (90) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at PNC Arena. (James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports)
It wouldn’t be Bruins training camp without a veteran PTO forward in camp, and this year, that honor went to the veteran Tyler Johnson. Most recently with the Blackhawks, and on the heels of a 2023-24 campaign that featured 17 goals and 31 points, the 5-foot-9 Johnson is in camp this year looking to earn a contract as a do-it-all type capable of playing both left and right wing (and a little center if you find yourself in a pinch).
Tuesday will see Johnson skate on a line with Georgii Merkulov and Justin Brazeau on a line that’ll effectively serve as Boston’s second line in this contest. How Johnson looks in this game could be a massive tell, all things considered, too. If we go back to last year, the Bruins weren’t afraid to cut Alex Chiasson from their camp after just two outings revealed to them that he was, well, pretty damn cooked as an NHLer. Danton Heinen, however, refused to let up, and ultimately parlayed his strong preseason into a contract with the club.
This is also a line that you’d project will get a ton of offensive-zone work in this one, too, meaning options to contribute should and will be there for the 34-year-old.
Georgii Merkulov
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Georgii Merkulov #42 of the Boston Bruins takes a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at TD Garden on January 04, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
On the topic of momentum, it certainly does appear that Georgii Merkulov actually has some in this camp.
Merkulov put himself on the board with an assist in the preseason opener this past Sunday, and Tuesday came with some praise for the youngster courtesy of Montgomery.
“I’ve seen him do it in practice,” Montgomery said when asked about the growth of Merkulov as a pro. “I think his habits and details and making plays in practice have been good, now it needs to translate to games for him.”
The Bruins have made it clear that a player like Merkulov has to earn the gig this camp and that it won’t be given to them. And with effectively two spots for four guys, that work needs to continue for Merkulov. But the fact that it’s being noticed in practice is a definite positive given how that element of any young player’s game has been repeatedly stressed as a must-have to succeed under Montgomery and the Bruins.
Justin Brazeau
Mar 27, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau (55) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel/USA TODAY Sports)
As it stands right now, Justin Brazeau may be a lock for the Bruins, but it’s safe to say that the B’s are still trying to figure out exactly what it is that they have with the big-bodied wing.
On the board with five goals and two helpers in 19 regular-season appearances down the stretch a season ago, the Bruins are big believers in Brazeau’s continued development as a pro, with his positive strides in the skating game (see what I did there?) and his overall conditioning being enough to earn him an NHL contract a year ago in the first place. And once in the NHL, Brazeau kept on pushing, and received frequent in-game promotions up the B’s depth chart before a late-season injury put him on the shelf to begin the postseason. But again, is Brazeau someone who’s best suited as a bottom-six type that can maximized via the power play or can he move up?
“I think if [Brazeau] can come back and start where he was when he got called up and in the playoffs, that would be a real good start,” Montgomery said. “Building on it, it’s just really gonna be how much can he handle, how many plays is he making, and where is he best suited to help the Bruins? The opportunity for growth is there.”
Fabian Lysell
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (23) blocks a pass during the third period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
Like they have with Merkulov, the Bruins have made it clear to Fabian Lysell that despite his strong minor-league numbers, he’s going to have to outwork his peers to make this team. Sunday’s preseason debut was not a strong start in that respect, though, as Lysell provided a whole lot of nothing to the Bruins.
The Bruins are making sure to not go overboard with their assessment of his play after just one game, of course, but they also made it clear that they need a lot more out of the 2021 first-round pick this fall.
“I can’t say I know him well enough to answer that question intelligently, to be honest,” Montgomery said when asked if Lysell is just a slow starter. “But he needs to do a little more than he’s done if he wants to make the Bruins, but that would be the case for most people who played the previous night.”
It’s not a direct callout, per se, but there’s no doubt that Lysell he needs to make more of an impact starting now. Does he answer that bell? Because, to be honest, with more and more NHLers on the way to these lineups, a second straight dud may severely hinder his chances of getting another chance to provide a response.
Joonas Korpisalo
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 16: Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to a game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on April 16, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
If the Bruins follow the same script as they did on Sunday, this game will come with a half-game outing for Joonas Korpisalo in what will be his first game action as a Bruin.
Acquired from Ottawa in the Linus Ullmark trade, Korpisalo is coming off what was a disastrous 2023-24 campaign in Ottawa, with 21 wins, a 3.27 goals against average, and .890 save percentage in 55 games played.
Now, the Bruins are convinced that they can make some mechanical tweaks to Korpisalo’s game to get him back to being the goalie he was during his brief-but-successful 2023 run with Los Angeles (Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and Kings general manager Rob Blake actually had a conversation about Korpisalo’s game). Goalie coach Bob Essensa has a knack for fixing goalies, too, so you don’t hate their odds at the end of the day.
But with Jeremy Swayman still without a deal (and just a few days away from this becoming the longest training camp stalemate of the Sweeney era), the Bruins have to prepare for a potential timeline that sees them begin the season with Korpisalo as their true No. 1 goaltender. And if that’s the case, you have to feel even a little bit more confident in Korpisalo being ‘fixed’ from the Ottawa version that was just plain unwatchable.
