Since his arrival in Boston, Brian Gionta has two goals and four assists for six points in five games. Not bad for the 39-year-old veteran forward, especially given the fact that he “retired” prior to the season and didn’t play until he captained Team USA at the Winter Olympics.
“Looks like he hasn’t missed any time,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “I don’t know how you do that at this level, any professional hockey level, not being rusty. He’s done a great job.”
No doubt Gionta has an impressive resume and he hopes to add to it this season with the Bruins. He’s old school in a way that he’s more than willing to play in the corners and in front of the opposition’s net as a 5-foot-7, 180-pound grinder. His play is reminiscent of former Bruins forward Mark Recchi, who won three Stanley Cups during his Hall of Fame career.
Gionta is not your typical net-front presence type of player. He’s one of the smallest players in the league but he can handle that role.
“It’s not like the old days, the pre-2004-05 lockout when you would get really hammered in front,” he told BostonSportsJournal.com. “You take a little bit of a beating and that’s to be expected being in front.”
Gionta’s style of play has quickly helped the Bruins’ second power-play unit. He’s willing to stand in front and do the heavy work in the dirty areas. He has uncanny hand-eye coordination. One reason he’s so effective in front is his ability to tip pucks.
“It’s something I’ve always worked on,” Gionta said. “A lot of my career I’ve been in front on the power play, so it’s something I’ve worked on over the years. I enjoy it. I’d much rather have the D float it in there and give me a chance to get a piece of it and from there, anything can happen.”
The days of defensemen floating the puck on net are changing, because those shots are getting blocked more often than not. The Bruins have made it a point the last few months to get pucks on net with authority to avoid those blocks, so Gionta has been practicing his skill with his new teammates. After a recent morning skate, he stood in his normal spot on the power play, while the defensemen lined up on the blue line and unleashed shots. Kevan Miller caught Gionta off the shoulder and the two laughed about it, but the fact that the veteran forward continues to work on that aspect of his game could prove crucial for the Bruins at some point.
Opponents “have adjusted and they block with more layers and that second layer is blocking a lot of shots,” explained Gionta. “D-men, back in the day, tried to tie you up from behind and now he’s trying to front those shots, but when the puck gets through then all of a sudden you’re alone at the net. Our defensemen do a great job of getting the puck through, so whatever they do to get it through is fine by me.”
There’s a science behind redirecting pucks. Players practice it all the time and Gionta is no different. In fact, he’s made it a point to learn all of his new teammates’ shots from the point. He’s also explained to them where he likes the puck.
“Roughly knee-to-hip height you can go down or up with the puck and that’s ideally the most comfortable spot to find it,” Gionta said.
Smaller players in the NHL are known for their speed and perimeter play and not necessarily the net-front presence, but Cassidy has been impressed with Gionta’s willingness to play in that area.
“It’s not that easy standing there, even in today’s game,” Cassidy said. “You can still push guys around and he enjoys it, so that tells you a little bit about his character when you’re the smallest guy on the ice but you’re going to the hardest area. That’s probably why he’s played 20 years.”
____________________
____________________