BOSTON — The Bruins’ second power-play unit was so effective in a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon at TD Garden, coach Bruce Cassidy thinks it may be time for a promotion.
"Well, it might be 1-A and 1-B now," he said.
The second unit scored three of Boston’s four power-play goals and rookie left winger Jake DeBrusk assisted on all three, setting up David Krejci twice and then helping Brian Gionta score with a man advantage at [...]
BOSTON — The Bruins’ second power-play unit was so effective in a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon at TD Garden, coach Bruce Cassidy thinks it may be time for a promotion.
“Well, it might be 1-A and 1-B now,” he said.
The second unit scored three of Boston’s four power-play goals and rookie left winger Jake DeBrusk assisted on all three, setting up David Krejci twice and then helping Brian Gionta score with a man advantage at 8:02 of the third period to put the Bruins on top, 5-4. The four power-play goals tied a season high.
The Bruins swept their six-game homestand despite injuries to Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy and a suspension to David Backes. They’ll play 11 of their remaining 16 games on the road, starting with a 12:30 p.m. contest in Chicago on Sunday.
The Bruins have scored 10 power-play goals in their last five games after going only 2-for-32 in their previous 11 games.
“We had a pretty tough stretch there on our power play,” DeBrusk said, “and I think we’re trying different things, different sets. At the same time, I think we have really good leadership on that group as well. I think it’s me and Matty [Grzelcyk] as the young guys and Krech and Gio and Holdy [Nick Holden] are leading the way.”
“Since Gionta’s been moved to the front of the net,” Cassidy said, “on that group and Holden’s come [we have] a little more of a shot-tip type of mentality.”
On the 6-0 homestand, DeBrusk had two goals and six assists for eight points after collecting only one goal and no assists over his previous seven games. After Cassidy benched him for a shift or two against Montreal on March 3, he re-entered that game and scored with 2:45 remaining to tie the score 1-1 and Brad Marchand scored in overtime to give the Bruins the victory.
On Tuesday, DeBrusk scored just 52 seconds into the game to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead and they went on to beat Detroit, 6-5, on another overtime goal by Marchand. DeBrusk was blanked during a 3-2 win over the Flyers on Thursday, but he had three assists on Saturday.
“I’ve always been a second-half player,” he said. “I don’t know why. It just seems to click so I’m trying to keep it going.”
DeBrusk has 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 62 games.
DeBrusk thought he played well during a five-game road trip prior to the six-game homestand.
“But there was no results and it was really frustrating,” he said. “You can play well and generate chances, but then when nothing goes in and you’re having a tough game and things aren’t going well, it just sets a different switch off for me. Obviously, it was great timing. I was able to score that goal against Montreal, but at the same time I think it’s been kind of leading up.”
DeBrusk found Krejci in front for the first power-play goal to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead at 14:10 of the first period.
“It was just a battle,” DeBrusk said. “I think I just lifted the D-man’s stick there and then I looked up and he was all alone in front. I’m not going to say it was easy because nothing’s easy in this league, but he’s in the perfect spot at the right time. I just tried to hit him. He won’t miss those.”
DeBrusk hit Krejci again at 10:05 of the second period to tie it, 3-3.
“It was just kind of scrambly puck,” DeBrusk said. “It was bouncing. When I got it, I actually wanted to shoot, but then the defenseman went down so I had to make a quick move.”
“Those are passes that you dream of,” Krejci said. “You just kind of get it in the perfect spot and you’re only facing the goalie or an open net. Those are fun.”
“That’s nice of him to say,” DeBrusk said. “He’s given me a lot of those, too.”
DeBrusk said he was aiming for Gionta in front, but the puck found its way to Krejci.
On the unit’s third power-play goal, DeBrusk was standing in front of the net and got his stick on Grzelcyk’s slap shot. The puck deflected to Gionta and he tucked it behind goaltender J-F Berube.
“The third one was just I think what our power play is trying to do,” DeBrusk said, “just get shots to the net and bodies there. It was really nice to contribute.”
Rick Nash made it 6-4 by scoring the only goal by the first power-play unit. The Bruins scored four goals in the third period to overcome a 4-3 deficit and enable goaltender Tuukka Rask to earn a victory on his 31st birthday.