The Boston Bruins begin their solo road trip during a busy stretch of four games in six days when they face the New Jersey Devils in the teams’ first head-to-head meeting of the season on Wednesday night in Newark, NJ.
Boston enters the tournament on a four-game hitting streak (3-0-1), moving back above the Eastern Conference playoff spot with Monday’s 6-3 victory over the visiting San Jose Sharks.
While David Pastrnak scored for the fourth straight game, the second goal helped the Bruins get over the line in their last outing. Playing with new teammate Brad Marchand, he remembers recent AHL Matt Poitras feeding veteran Charlie Coyle for goals including the game-winning third-period winner.
“You can’t rely on one or two players or one line to carry your offense,” Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco said. “We need second goals. We need other guys to play if they can.”
For Coyle, San Jose’s latest effort ended a 10-game drought.
“It can build confidence, but it’s not like you go to games and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got to score, I’ve got to do this,'” Coyle said. “I think as long as we’re playing the right way, that’s what I’m trying to do, day in and day out.”
Sacco is similarly optimistic, noting that his team has sometimes gone out of the way to play in the first place that has led to success.
In order to strengthen their playoff position, finding consistency will be important. The soon-to-be-returned defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm should help, but the Bruins will be tested with four of their final five January games against current playoff teams.
“I think there’s always a sense of urgency, but for us, I know this is repetitive, this game in front of us, right?” Said Sacco. “We know there’s a runway left, but it’s getting smaller. …We have to make sure our guys are ready to play (the next game).”
The Bruins, however, will be without forward Mark Kastelic, who was injured on Monday. Patrick Brown and Max Jones were recalled from AHL affiliate Providence.
The Devils have scored just one goal in their last two losses and are 1-2-3 since their last win on Jan. 6, and the slide moved them into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Most recently, New Jersey won 2-1 on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, who came from behind with a 6-5 victory over Boston the previous day.
The Devils are hoping a strong finish to their three-game homestand can help spark a turnaround.
“It’s a new day. The past is the past,” defenseman Brett Pesce said. “Obviously, we know we’ve been in a bit of a slump here. Every team goes through difficulties. … We come (Wednesday) with a new mindset.”
Tomas Tatar scored the lone goal for the Devils against Ottawa. It entered the second half after holding on to a 16-2 lead in a scoreless first.
“If you are in this position, you have to make things easy, play very well, it will eventually come,” said New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe. “But we can’t do anything outside. We have to make it very simple.”
While the Bruins scored second in their last game, the Devils wanted more from their best, including Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier.
“Our top players have to be better,” said Keefe. “That’s easy. End of statement.”
–Field Level Media