BOSTON — Someday, Bruce Cassidy may actually get to use Plan A, instead of whatever plan is in currently in use.
The Bruins coach has enough healthy personnel to do it now, in fact, but that would constitute messing with success. That means the top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, without an even-strength goal in the last three games, is safe, since the B’s have gone 2-0-1 over that stretch to take a 6-0-2 streak into Tuesday’s road game against the Islanders (7:05 p.m., NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5).
Thank another new second line for that. David Krejci returned on Saturday at Ottawa after missing six games with his second upper body injury of the season (the first cost him 12 games), and centered a line that contributed three goals (two during power plays) to a 5-0 victory. Rookie Jake DeBrusk, always projected to skate with Krejci this season, was Krejci’s left wing while Ryan Spooner, who started the season in something like no-man’s land, played right wing.
“It’s still a small sample size,” Cassidy said. “(But) it sure looked good the other night, and it looks good in practice. If we could make it work, that’d be nice.”
Back in September, when Cassidy was drawing up lines that would give incoming rookies a chance to join established combinations, the coach envisioned a DeBrusk-Krejci-Pastrnak unit, with Anders Bjork skating at right wing with Marchand and Bergeron. Spooner, entering his third full NHL season, was going to have to compete for a job — probably at his natural center position, but possibly as a wing, where former coach Claude Julien began to use him last season.
Injuries to Bergeron, Krejci, center option David Backes and Spooner himself (he has missed a total of 20 games with recurring groin problems) interfered with a number of plans, and actually led to Spooner playing in the middle as often as not when healthy. With a clear order at center now, though (Bergeron, Krejci, Riley Nash, rookie Sean Kuraly), the only place for Spooner is on the wing — and Bjork’s recent ineffectiveness (1-2—3 in 12 games since missing seven with an upper body injury) has opened a spot on the right side. The left-shooting Spooner hasn’t played much on his off wing, but he’s not about to be choosy at this point.
“When I talked to (Spooner), he just wanted to play,” Cassidy said. “He wasn’t married to either side … so we’re going to try the right, and see how it works out.”
Switched from the top power play to the second group — where he joined Krejci and DeBrusk — Spooner hit for a power-play goal on Saturday, and was on the ice when Krejci scored during a manpower advantage, too. Spooner, who entered the game with only one goal in 16 games, scored his second of the night on a breakaway, after blocking a shot at the Bruins’ blue line.
Krejci liked the fit.
“(Ryan) has good speed,” Krejci said, “and he thinks the game similar to me. He’s a pass-first person … My game is also carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making some plays, so now we have two guys who can do that. It doesn’t always have to be me.
“It worked for us last game, but it was only one game. We’ve got to build on that.”
Around the Boards
Cassidy said he’ll use the same lineup against the Isles that beat the Senators, meaning Bjork won’t dress for the second straight game. A first-ever assignment to AHL Providence is a possibility. “We’re not saying what we’re going to do with (Bjork),” Cassidy said, “but if a young kid is not playing on a consistent basis, then yes, absolutely … Whether it’s right now or down the road, we’ll have to assess what’s best for him and what’s best for our team.” … There also won’t be room for veteran defenseman Adam McQuaid, who hasn’t played since breaking his fibula on Oct. 19. “We want the right time for him,” Cassidy said, “but it’s a little tougher, because our lineup is going well.” … Rookie winger Peter Cehlarik, who had missed 16 games since injuring a knee on Nov. 24, was assigned to Providence.