For the second time in four games, Bruins center Matt Poitras will exit the Black and Gold lineup and watch his teammates from the press box.
The scratch is not related to anything disciplinary, but it just another step in the B’s attempts to manage the workload put on the 19-year-old Poitras in his first year or pro hockey, according to Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery.
“We’re not sure on our lineup, but I can tell you Poitras is coming out as planned with the maintenance plan we have in place for him with load management,” Montgomery said following his team’s morning skate.
Oct 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers during the first period at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)
When the Bruins scratched Poitras for the first time last week against Buffalo, Montgomery was quick to point out that this was Boston’s plan all along. Even after the Bruins have a considerable break between games (they were completely off from game action for three days before that Buffalo game), the Bruins circled that Dec. 7 showdown with the Sabres as a breather for Poitras.
And even now with Pavel Zacha on the shelf with an upper-body injury, the Bruins are sticking to that plan and giving Poitras his second day off in nine days.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 24: Matthew Poitras fist bumps teammates after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at the United Center on October 24, 2023. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
But perhaps that’s why finding these breathers for Poitras is of such importance to the Bruins.
After tonight’s head-to-head with the Islanders, the Bruins have another 54 games on deck before the start 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Poitras, who has already made 26 appearances this season, will play in the majority of those. And Poitras has never played more than 68 games in a season, and that came in the OHL. Playing 68 games in the OHL vs. playing 68 games in the NHL is a world of difference.
And given his importance to the Bruins, they simply have to be mindful of burnout.
When it come to Poitras, I can’t help but throwing myself in the wayback machine and looking back at Blake Wheeler and his jump to the NHL in 2008-09. A relatively surprising emergence in 2008 (at least from an impact standpoint), Wheeler was a first-half stud for the Bruins, with 14 goals and 30 points in 47 games leading up to the 2009 All-Star break. But in the second half, Wheeler, who was jumping right from the NCAA to the NHL, faded to the tune of just seven goals and 15 points in 34 games.
The burnout was indeed real, as Wheeler was out of gas, and put forth a playoff run that saw him go without a point in eight games and even sit as a healthy scratch.
Not all players are made equal, and the problems for a player like Wheeler in 2008-09 may not hit a player like Poitras in 2023-24, but there’s no denying that these center-depleted Bruins aren’t build to handle a pure Poitras burnout down the stretch.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 28: Matthew Poitras looks for a shot against Shayne Gostisbehere during the first period at TD Garden on October 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
So, just how intense how the Bruins’ management of Poitras get?
The Bruins are rapidly approach that classic every other day schedule before you know it, and it stands to reason that there will be plenty of time to get him time off. The Bruins could even let Poitras leave the NHL for a hot minute and play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships if they want. The Bruins say they haven’t made a decision on that one way or another, but the latest reporting from Darren Dreger earlier in the week suggested that it was ‘doubtful’ that the Bruins would do that.
Don’t be surprised when Team Canada announces its WJC roster later today, it names only 12 forwards instead of 13. Canada is hoping an NHL player (Poitras/Benson) can be added to the roster within the next week. Doubtful on both fronts.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 13, 2023Poitras, who is not eligible to be sent down to AHL Providence, has recorded five goals and 12 points through 26 games with Boston this season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: Jesper Boqvist #70 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on October 05, 2023 in New York City. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
With Poitras out, the Bruins are unsure exactly how their lineup will shake out (and Montgomery is always prone to in-game shuffling), but they do know that Jesper Boqvist will return to the Boston lineup.
Jesper Boqvist on the message from Jim Montgomery after being called up: "Just to keep going and keep building on the path I'm on...it's going to be a lot of fun tonight for sure." pic.twitter.com/nhL6qHYqHI
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 15, 2023Recalled from Providence earlier this week, Boqvist will make his first NHL appearance since Oct. 26, when he logged one hit in just over six minutes of time on ice in an overtime loss to the Ducks.
Boqvist, who has recorded five goals and 14 points in 24 games with the P-Bruins this season, has 190 games of NHL experience between Boston and New Jersey since 2019-20.
