There’s an awful lot that’s gone into the rise of the Bruins in 2022.
But one thing that’s seemingly flown under the radar? The team’s ability to put losses behind them. They did it once again Friday night in Winnipeg, as the team rebounded from a deflating Wednesday night loss in Minnesota with a 4-2 victory over the Jets. With the win, the Bruins improved to a staggering 18-4-2 in their first game after a loss.
The reason behind that number, as Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy explained, is a pretty simple one.
“We don’t like losing,” Cassidy said after the game.
But as Cassidy explained beyond the obvious, it also goes back to the team’s mindset as a contender.
“I think our guys, the next night, are usually ready to go,” Cassidy said. “We wanted to win and it showed, you know? End of a road trip, desperate team at home with some momentum and we got the game back [in the third period]. And that’s a credit to the guys in the room for keeping their composure and then upping their game when they needed to.”
For the Bruins, this game with putting quick-strike goals from the Jets in the rearview mirror, and coming through on a second chance opportunity when Brenden Dillon carelessly flung a puck up and over the glass just moments after the Jets successfully a Boston power-play opportunity late in the third period of a tied game.
“I think they were disappointed in the previous power play,” Cassidy admitted. “Part of our meeting before the game was their D will play a little bit away from the net, so getting a puck through from the point would be an option for us tonight. Took us a while to to use that one, but Charlie McAvoy does a good job to get it through and then Taylor Hall does the dirty work in front.
“We had to go to Plan B or C to to get the best look, and eventually we got to it and good for us for get rewarded.”
Here are some other thoughts and notes from a 4-2 win in Winnipeg…
Mar 18, 2022; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) skates towards Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley (64) in the first period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder/USA TODAY Sports)
Charlie Coyle steps up for Bergeron-less Bruins
It goes without saying that it’s absolutely impossible to replace Patrice Bergeron for the Bruins.
And with Bergeron out of action for the second straight game due to an arm injury that runs the risk of a potential infection, the Bruins leaned on Charlie Coyle to shoulder the load as the team’s de facto No. 1 center. On the ice for a center-high 19:18 of time on ice (only Brad Marchand played more than Coyle among Boston forwards, at 20:41), Coyle finished Friday’s victory with three helpers, and the Bruins held a 10-4 advantage in shots with No. 13 on the ice at five-on-five.
“I mean, everyone’s gotta do their part,” Coyle said after the win. “You want to take as much responsibility as you can and make sure you kind of filling in the gap. It’s a tough gap to fill. No one can replace a guy of his caliber, but together it’s a joint effort and everyone’s gonna do their part, and I thought we did it for the most part.”
Coyle, by the way, is currently paced for what would be a 19-goal, 48-point season with the Bruins. It would be his best year to date in Boston, and his best since a 56-point campaign with Minnesota in 2016-17. A 19-goal season would also be his most goals in a season since a 21-goal campaign in 2015-16.
Mar 18, 2022; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins center Jack Studnicka (23) gets set to block a shot from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley (64) in the first period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder/USA TODAY Sports)
Studnicka makes return to Boston lineup
An emergency recall but ultimately unable to get to Minnesota in time for Wednesday’s head-to-head with the Wild, Friday did come with Jack Studnicka’s formal return to the big club for what was his first NHL action since Feb. 21.
Slotted between Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk on the Bruins’ top line, the 6-foot-1 Studnicka was credited with an assist and victories in six of his 11 battles at the dot in 13:28 of action, an played a more complete game fo the Bruins. The latter of which led to some praise from Cassidy following the victory in Winnipeg.
“He started the breakout on on Marchand’s goal by being in the right spot,” Cassidy offered. “He’s underneath. He’s not cheating and leaving the zone early. Some of his habits before, we would have to remind him about that, so clearly he’s corrected that down in Providence and as a result he’s in a good spot whether we win the puck back or not.
“I thought he was moving well through the middle of the ice, shot when he was supposed, kicked it out to the wingers when he was supposed to. So, you know, good for him. We need that. We’re not going to lean on Jack for everything, but he’s going to get his minutes. I don’t know what they turned out tonight, but he was playing in different situations, so good for him.”
It also sounds like the current plan is for Studnicka to get another look in Montreal on Monday night. Worth noting, of course, that that game is slated for after the 3 p.m. trade deadline, and Studnicka could be a name of note to team dealing with the B’s.
Mar 18, 2022; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) is checked by Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) in the first period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder/USA TODAY Sports)
Taylor Hall has kept his word out of All-Star break
Speaking with reporters after a Feb. 1 win over the Kraken, Taylor Hall acknowledged that he was happy with his game, but added that he felt there was another level he wanted to reach with the Bruins. He wanted to be a more complete player, and continue to make strides in his two-way game. We’re about a month and a half into those comments, and Hall is certainly looking the part of a player committed to becoming more of a threat in all areas.
On top of the ability to score some dirty-area goals like the one that won the B’s the game on Friday night, Hall has put teams on notice in more ways than one. One of 192 NHL forwards to play at least 200 even-strength minutes since the Bruins came out of All-Star break, Hall ranks 62nd in penalties drawn per 60 (1.13), and is 46th in takeaways per 60 (2.26). Hall is also 32nd in individual scoring chances for per 60 (10.39). This is the Hall the B’s need down the stretch and in the postseason.
Mar 18, 2022; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins left wing Tomas Nosek (92) skates past Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) in the first period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder/USA TODAY Sports)
The Junk Drawer
- Rare feat for Nick Foligno on Friday night. Deployed for 8:51 of five-on-five action, the Bruins outshot Winnipeg by a 12-0 edge with Foligno on the ice. Can’t remember the last time I saw that involving a B’s fourth liner.
- It’s a shame Blake Wheeler isn’t on the market this year. You wanna talk about a potentially perfect fit at RW1…
- Any NHL team whose home arena makes coaches and trainers walk across the ice to get to their locker room should be docked 10 points out of the gate every season until it’s fixed. Complete amateur hour stuff, and it’s way too common. On top of the ridiculousness of having these guys walk across the ice in shoes, it’s a straight-up stupid when it involves an injured player having to get to the locker room, as you saw with David Pastrnak on Friday night.
- I miss when the Winnipeg Jets were the Atlanta Thrashers. Atlanta got hosed by terrible ownership and I will say this until I’m in the grave. Long Live The Thrashers.
- Random Thrasher: Garnet Exelby.
- I truly have no idea if Jake DeBrusk will remain with the Bruins ahead of Monday’s deadline. But I do know that the offers they’ve received for him have been largely underwhelming in the eyes of the Bruins. Even with his hot streak. So, I’m officially of the belief that he’s here unless he’s used as part of a package to acquire a top-four defenseman.
