BOSTON — As recently as March 2016, Brett Connolly was a member of a Bruins team that couldn’t buy a win against the Capitals.
On Thursday, with the winter of 2017-18 in the air, he was a member of those Capitals, trying to beat the B’s for the 11th straight time — and he was one of their hottest players. A healthy scratch for two straight games around Thanksgiving, Connolly brought four goals in his past six games to the Garden.
“Not a lot was going on for me before that,” said the 25-year-old winger. “So you sit a couple out, then you come back and you’re hungry, and you want to play well. I was fortunate to do that.”
Obtained by the B’s from the Lightning on March 2, 2015, for second-round draft picks in 2015 and '16, Connolly describes his time in Boston as “a weird ... year-and-a-half.” He needed surgery to repair a finger broken during his first practice with his new team, and played only five games (two assists) before the season ended. Signed to a one-year, $1.025-million contract for 2015-16, he beat his previous best totals for assists (16), points (25) and games played (71), but was prone to slumps and was a frequent source of fan frustration.
“I didn’t think I was terrible, by any means,” Connolly said. “But that was that.”
Pretty much. The Bruins didn’t even extend a qualifying offer after 2015-16.
“I was disappointed,” said Connolly, who played his 300th NHL game on Thursday. “I wasn’t expecting to not be qualified. But [the Bruins] had different plans, and that’s fine, totally.
“I was just hungry to come to Washington and have a good year, and I did that [career-high 15 goals last season]. I want to do that again this year, and then next year, and kind of solidify myself in the league.”
Year Two in Washington — the first season of a new two-year, $3-million contract, hasn’t been without issues. Connolly started slowly (1-1 — 2 in 10 games), then lost seven games to injury and struggled when he returned.
“When he came back, I think every shift he was trying so hard to make a difference,” Caps coach Barry Trotz said. “Sometimes, when you’re trying too hard, you’re putting yourself out of position a little bit. You’re not getting the looks. You’re getting frustrated; you’re a little bit out of control.
“I had a talk with him and said, ‘Let’s just dial it down a bit. Use your instincts, use your ability and play hard; rely on the system to do what we need you to do and you’re going to get opportunities.' "
Beleskey to P-Bruins?
The Bruins announced on Thursday their increasingly anticipated decision to place veteran winger Matt Beleskey on waivers, with the intention of sending him to AHL Providence if he’s unclaimed on Friday. The former Duck, in the third year of a five-year, $19-million contract ($3.8 million) that has limited no-trade protection, hasn’t played an AHL game since 2009.
In a statement, general manager Don Sweeney said he hoped Beleskey would “have the opportunity to go to Providence, play in all situations, get his confidence and game back to the level he brought in his first year with the Bruins.”
Beleskey was 15-22 — 37 in 2015-16, but slid to 3-5 — 8 and minus-10 over 49 games last season, in part because of a knee injury. He didn’t have a point in 14 games (minus-8) this year and was scratched 14 times, including the last six games and 10 of the Bruins’ last 11.
“Most guys like playing,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “It’s not the level [Beleskey] wants, but if he plays it, has some fun with it, regains the way he can play, then he’ll help us down the road. That’s the plan; we’ll see how it pans out.”
Around the boards
With Beleskey off the active roster, center Ryan Spooner (groin) was activated from Injured Reserve. Spooner warmed up but didn’t play. ... Defenseman Kevan Miller, who missed Wednesday’s overtime win at Detroit to be with his wife as she delivered the couple’s daughter, Remy, returned to the lineup. Paul Postma, who replaced Miller on Wednesday, was scratched, along with winger Frank Vatrano. ... B’s captain Zdeno Chara played his 1,399th career NHL game.