In a crucial matchup against a division foe in the Maple Leafs, Bruce Cassidy is set to roll out a revamped third line with an average age of just 22.3 years.
On Saturday morning, Cassidy announced another shuffling of his bottom-six forwards, with Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson to center Anders Bjork and Danton Heinen on the third line.
Noel Acciari will be scratched for Saturday’s tilt against Toronto, while David Backes will slot back down to the fourth line and skate on the wing with Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly.
While he’s had a slow start down in Providence, “JFK” projects as a reliable, two-way center at the NHL level. He already saw extended reps with some of Boston’s younger forwards during the preseason and training camp.
“He's a new face with some young (wings),” Cassidy said of Karlsson. “Danton, he played a bit with in training camp, (and hope) they just get on the same page as quick as possible. The easiest way to do that to me (is) play your own game. Take care of your job and you'll all end up on the same page if you're all playing the system together, which is expected every night. ... Who knows if it will work out?
"It's a bit of an unknown with JFK (and I) hope he's ready for it. This is kind of where he was pegged a couple years ago, to come in behind (Patrice Bergeron) and (David Krejci) -- give us 200-foot play and make some plays. Hopefully have a bit of both offense and defense. We have to give him a little bit of time to get up to speed, but at the same token, opportunity knocks and you need to be there, ready to answer it. That's what we're looking for.”
BSJ Analysis
Something eventually had to give on that third line. As a whole — Boston might have something with this bottom-six unit.
While their offensive numbers are far from impressive (a grand total of two goals and six points), both Heinen and Bjork have drawn praise from Cassidy for their play away from the puck — a testament to the strides that a dynamic winger like Bjork has made in his second NHL campaign.
Teaming those two up with Karlsson gives Boston a line that should be responsible at both ends of the ice (which should come in handy against a dynamic Leafs squad) while also showcasing much more speed than what they’d have with Backes at the pivot.
“I liked JFK in the games in China he played with DeBrusk and Donato (and) some younger players. I think he seemed to be more comfortable, so that goes into the thinking as well,” Cassidy said. “A young, skilled, speed line.
"We've seen better of that out of Bjork, to be honest with you, this year. I thought that part of his game has been very good. I just hope he finds the offensive part.”
Obviously, it’s never great to have a player making $6 million annually skating on your fourth line. But Cassidy noted that Backes should be able to go back to his bread and butter with similar players in Wagner and Kuraly.
At this point, the B’s are desperate to get Backes going, with the veteran still without a point through 10 games.
“I'm sure the guys (know) the numbers aren't where they are, he falls into that category. (You) probably squeeze their stick a little tight and overthink it,” Cassidy said. “Maybe this line will be a little more of, 'Hey, give us energy, pin the other team in their end, frustrate them,’ and maybe pucks find him on this line.”
Following Thursday’s shellacking at the hands of the Canucks, Cassidy harped on the need for some of the team’s energy players to assert themselves more and provide the spark to shift a momentum of a game. After a lack of compete against Vancouver, it looks like Acciari will be the first bruiser to watch a game from press level.
"What I think needs to happen with us is that the shoe should have been on the other foot the other night. We should be initiating contact, they should be chasing us around the rink,” Cassidy said. “Plain and simple. That falls on a bit of certain physical players, (Noel) fits into that category. Are we putting it on him? No, but we are tonight.
“Not on him, but we made a decision to bring a young fella up to play, he's going to play, he's a centerman, so that bumps someone out. ... I don't think it will be long term. Like I said, we chose Noel (Saturday) and we'll see how it plays out and we'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Other Notes:
The Bruins recalled goaltender Dan Vladar up from Providence on emergency basis Saturday morning, with the 21-year-old netminder set to serve as a backup while Tuukka Rask is away from the club on a leave of absence. Through seven games with the P-Bruins this season, Vladar is 2-3-1 with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
Jaroslav Halak will start Saturday against the Leafs, but he will have a busy workload this weekend, as Boston will host the Golden Knights on Sunday night at TD Garden.
“Jaro is starting, hopefully finishing,” Cassidy said of the team’s goaltending plans for Saturday and Sunday. “That's the plan. And again tomorrow, better question after the game for who will play. I'm not even sure then. It could be Vladar. See how Jaro feels. Danny was real good last night in Providence. He had a good camp. But that's a decision that we'll make later (Saturday) or (Sunday) morning."
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