The Boston Bruins make their lone highway cease throughout a busy stretch of 4 video games in six days after they face the New Jersey Devils for the groups’ first head-to-head assembly of the season Wednesday night time in Newark, N.J.
Boston enters the matchup on a four-game factors streak (3-0-1), having climbed again above the Jap Convention playoff minimize line with its 6-3 win Monday over the visiting San Jose Sharks.
Whereas David Pastrnak scored for a fourth straight recreation, secondary scoring helped the Bruins over the end line of their final outing. Taking part in with a brand new linemate in captain Brad Marchand, current AHL recall Matt Poitras fed veteran Charlie Coyle for the tying and successful objectives within the third interval.
“You’ll be able to’t simply depend on one or two gamers or one line to supply most of your offense,” Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco mentioned. “We want secondary scoring. We want different guys to chip in after they can.”
For Coyle, the late effort towards San Jose ended a 10-game aim drought.
“It might create some confidence, nevertheless it’s not such as you go into video games saying, ‘Hey, I’ve received to attain, I’ve received to do that,'” Coyle mentioned. “I believe so long as we play the best manner, that is simply what I attempt to do, day in and day trip.”
Sacco hopes for a similar, noting that his group has at instances gotten away from the defense-first type of play that makes it profitable.
As a way to strengthen their playoff standing, discovering consistency can be necessary. Defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm returning quickly ought to assist, however the Bruins can be examined with 4 of their remaining 5 January video games scheduled towards present playoff groups.
“I believe there’s at all times a way of urgency, however for us, I do know that that is repetitive, that is the sport that is in entrance of us, proper?” Sacco mentioned. “We all know there’s runway left, nevertheless it’s getting smaller. … We’ve got to ensure our guys are able to play (the following recreation).”
The Bruins, although, won’t have ahead Mark Kastelic, who was injured Monday. Patrick Brown and Max Jones have been recalled from AHL affiliate Windfall.
The Devils have scored only one aim in every of their final two losses and are 1-2-3 since their final regulation win on Jan. 6, and the slide has precipitated them to slide into third place within the Metropolitan Division.
Most just lately, New Jersey took a 2-1 loss Sunday to the Ottawa Senators, who had come from behind for a 6-5 shootout win over Boston the day gone by.
The Devils hope a powerful end to their three-game homestand can assist spark a turnaround.
“It is a new day. The previous is the previous,” defenseman Brett Pesce mentioned. “Clearly, we all know we have been slumping a little bit right here. Each group goes by way of adversity. … We’re coming (into Wednesday) with a contemporary mindset.”
Tomas Tatar scored the Devils’ lone aim towards Ottawa. It got here within the second interval after holding a dominant 16-2 taking pictures benefit in a scoreless first.
“If you’re on this place you simply must simplify issues, play excellent structurally, it will come finally,” New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “However we won’t simply be doing no matter on the market. We’ve got to simplify it lots.”
Whereas the Bruins discovered some secondary scoring of their final recreation, the Devils are trying to find extra from their finest, together with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier.
“Our greatest gamers must be higher,” Keefe mentioned. “It is that straightforward. Finish of assertion.”
–Subject Stage Media
