Injuries already have Bruins asking for next man to step up

It didn’t take long for the Boston Bruins to deal with adversity.

It may seem like a silly notion to think about only two games into the season, but it’s the reality of the NHL. In the midst of training camp a couple of weeks ago, coach Bruce Cassidy thought he had a solid lineup to begin the season. He didn’t realize that he would be without Patrice Bergeron (lower-body injury), David Backes (diverticulitis) and Torey Krug (broken jaw). It didn’t help that forward Noel Acciari suffered a broken left index finder in the first game and will be sidelined six weeks.

Cassidy, a self-described tinkerer of the lineup, was hoping he wouldn’t have to make this many tweaks only two games into the schedule. After training camp and the preseason, he knew there were some line combinations “up in the air” in regards to the bottom six. The coach was trying to determine the best fit for the younger players on the team.



It didn’t help when key players were sidelined and Cassidy had to start from scratch. The inconsistency was evident during Monday’s 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at TD Garden. Cassidy blamed himself, saying the team wasn’t prepared and that’s on him. Until he has a completely healthy lineup, the tinkering will continue.

“That’s the way we’re going to do things around here until we see what we like,” he said. “We like what we saw against Nashville (in the 4-3 season-opening victory).”

Since Cassidy was ashamed of the team’s performance on Monday, and with the news that Bergeron will not be ready for Wednesday’s game against the Avalanche in Denver, the Bruins recalled forward Danton Heinen from Providence, along with signing forward Ryan White to a professional tryout.

Heinen was one of the last cuts at the conclusion of the preseason, and during Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, he was playing the right side, along with Sean Kuraly at center and Tim Schaller on the left. If that trio remains intact for Wednesday’s game, it has the potential to add grit, a sustainable forecheck, and if it can finish, well, then that’s a bonus.

Since the Bruins already lost Backes and Acciari on the right side, Heinen could fit well in that spot. He’ll need to play a straight-line game and bring physicality in that spot.

“We’re not afraid to use him,” Cassidy said. “He was really good in training camp.”

White was an interesting pick-up. What it does is create more internal competition and should spark the in-house talent. It doesn’t hurt to acquire White, who is the type of player that can add grit to the bottom six and has experience. His defensive game is questionable.

It’s no secret at this point of Cassidy’s tenure as coach that he likes dealing in offensive pairs and then likes to find a third player that complements the duo. When injuries occur and players are promoted from the AHL to fill the void, adjustments need to be made.

“You have to be able to adjust on the fly from game to game,” he said. “You’re consistently looking for chemistry. Last Thursday, some of the moves we made worked out well. Yesterday, not as well, clearly.”

Cassidy and his coaching staff examined lines after Monday’s game, and again during practice on Tuesday before the team left for its first road trip of the season through Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas. It was decided to put David Krejci back with Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork. Also, Cassidy moved Riley Nash up to play center with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

Nash is a 200-foot player and is good on draws. Until Bergeron is cleared to play, which could be this weekend, Nash has the ability to complement that line.

“He’s an accountable guy,” Cassidy said. “He could be a good fit for those two and that’s what they miss right now. He drives the net and opens the ice for those two guys.”

With Bergeron and Backes out of the lineup, Marchand is the player that needs to step up. He’s the player that needs to fill the void. He’s had Bergeron as his steady linemate for a long time. Even during the World Cup of Hockey for Team Canada last season, Marchand played with Bergeron and Sidney Crosby.

Marchand has been put in a position to succeed with great players around him and now it’s his turn to produce in the go-to role. It’s his time to make the players around him better in a time of need.

Every team in the NHL will deal with its share of hardship during the season. Maybe it’s a good thing the Bruins are dealing with it this early in the season. Once Cassidy has a healthy roster, the Bruins shouldn’t have too many performances as they did in Monday’s game against the Avalanche.

Here were the lines and defensive pairings at Tuesday's practice:

Forwards

Marchand-Nash-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Bjork
Beleskey-Spooner-Vatrano
Schaller-Kuraly-Heinen
Extras: Czarnik-White

Defense

Chara-Carlo
Krug-McQuaid
Miller-McAvoy

Goalies

Rask
Khudobin