Surging Bruins face rebuilding Canucks (Mar 13, 2017)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Bruce Cassidy had an important decision to make Sunday.
It was a travel day for his Boston Bruins, but the interim coach still felt his team should "do something" after a long flight from the East Coast. Should his team have a dryland workout or a skate? After consulting coaches and some veteran players, Cassidy opted for a short, late-afternoon skate at Rogers Arena.
"Hopefully, it was the right call," said Cassidy after the workout.
Chances are good that it will be. Cassidy has made a lot of right calls since taking over for the fired Claude Julien in February.
The Bruins (36-26-6) are 10-3-0 since he was promoted from Providence of the American Hockey League. Cassidy's charges sport a three-game win streak, following a last-minute 2-1 win over Philadelphia, and are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games mark as they prepare to visit the Vancouver Canucks (28-31-9) on Monday night.
"Obviously, I'm happy," said Cassidy, who had an unsuccessful tenure with Washington in his first NHL head coaching job. "I want to have success. I want the group to have success. So, it's worked out. So far, so good -- but it's a very short period of time, so we want to sustain that (level) and be consistent in the long run. We want to still get it done here in March and April so we can keep our season going."
The Bruins, third in the Atlantic Division, now have a realistic shot at a playoff spot after it appeared almost certain that they would be also-rans. Cassidy said one key to the success has been his club's newly found ability to win low-scoring games.
"Early on, I thought we scored a lot more than we had, and a lot of that had to do with our forwards attacking the net from low in the offensive zone and from our (defense) activating and getting involved in the rush," said Cassidy. "Over time, our game, I think, has gravitated to where we can, if we don't score, still win hockey games -- like the other night, a 2-1 game. It wasn't our best. We hung in there, had a real solid third period (and) took advantage of a late opportunity. It was a fortunate goal, but we had some opportunities before that."
Forward David Backes said players have found productive roles, "and the results have spoken for themselves" since Cassidy came in behind the bench.
"There's been a lot more cohesiveness, a lot more guys on the same page," said Backes. "I don't necessarily know that he has a different message. It might just be a different voice that's bringing a different result, a little bit of a breath of fresh air and a new start for some guys."
But captain Zdeno Chara is hard pressed to identify ways that the Bruins have changed since Cassidy replaced Julien, who has since moved to the Montreal Canadiens.
"A lot of people ask me: What was the reason? What happened? What were the changes?" said Chara. "I don't think we changed much. We just really started to perform better and execute more on the ice. We had some games early on where we performed really well and we didn't get the results. Now, we're getting the results and we're executing better."
Chara hopes the improvement will help the Bruins play more like the team that beat the Canucks in seven games in the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. On the other hand, the Canucks are continuing a season-long struggle to execute consistently.
Vancouver has lost three straight games and has fallen 10 points out of a playoff spot while trying to expand a rebuilding effort following the trades of veteran wingers Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen.
"Another Eastern team, that is going to be fun for us to see something different," said Canucks captain Henrik Sedin.
Well, maybe not.
All three of Vancouver's latest losses have come at home to Eastern Conference opponents. But two of the setbacks -- to Montreal and the New York Islanders -- came in overtime before the Canucks were overmatched in a 3-0 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
"We have to be proud of the way we battle and play for the most part," said Sedin.
But he still wants the Canucks to improve a particular aspect of their game.
"I still believe as a team, if we play a little bit quicker, we can get a lot more chances," said Sedin. "I don't think we are quick enough now with the passes."
He also wants the Canucks who have had their lines disrupted by the departures of Burrows and Hansen as well as injury and illness, to make good on early scoring opportunities.
"It feels like we are always waiting for something to happen," said Sedin. "When you do that, you are skating the wrong way. When you turn the puck over, they are going to come back and hurt you."
Forward Brandon Sutter also called on his club to improve defensively. The Canucks surrendered 48 shots to the Penguins on Saturday. Sutter said the Canucks have been giving up too many shots lately, and play their best when only allowing 25-30 shots per contest.
"Now, we are getting up over 40," said Sutter. "We have to crack down a little bit."
Ryan Miller who has played the bulk of games lately with backup Jacob Markstrom sidelined by a knee injury, is expected start in goal again for the Canucks. Miller posted 45 saves against the Penguins, while his team also allowed an empty-netter, but did not appear concerned about potential fatigue.
"I feel all right," he said.
NOTES: Bruins center Ryan Spooner is close to returning from a concussion and took part in Sunday's skate, but will not play against the Canucks, said Cassidy.
