Given the myriad of injuries that have decimated Boston’s roster as of late, the B’s have to be pretty pleased how they’ve fared with a patchwork crew — posting a record of 7-4-2 since Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron went down in consecutive matchups on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16.
Some impressive goaltending, timely scoring and a new dynamic top line have kept Boston afloat as of late — although the vacancy of Boston’s captain and alternate captain in the locker room has been felt at times.
Sure, both Chara and Bergeron are usual sights around Warrior Ice Arena as they rehab from their respective MCL and rib/clavicle injuries, but during a game, the onus is on the remaining veterans to hold court in front of a roster with 10 players under the age of 25.
That responsibility does not fall on one player, as Brad Marchand pointed out on Tuesday. Although, one skater does tend to take it upon himself to set the tone and relay messages during intermissions.
"Not much on the ice … a little bit on the bench,” Marchand said of being more vocal. “You know, when I’m not tired and try to pick it up a little bit in the room. (David) Backes does a ton of talking. He’s very good with that. He’s very vocal and he loves to hear himself speak, so. But, he’s great at that. He’s a great leader. He has been for a long time, so we just try to piggy-back off him.”
Backes, in good spirits despite taking a skate blade to the nose during Tuesday’s win over Arizona, views his hands-on role in the locker room as second nature at this point. Prior to his time with Boston, Backes wore the “C” for five seasons with the Blues, and is always around to impart his wisdom on anyone who’ll listen.
“Symptom of age, symptom of personality,” Backes said of being a vocal leader on this club. “We’ve got a few guys on the team where I’m still wondering what their voice sounds like. Other guys, I think are more vocal but maybe on ice, are out of breath a little bit more. I’ve got that ability. I’m on the bench for an amount of time where I’m able to get the mojo going and if you’re around long enough, you know when the other team is making a push and what we need in the game to change momentum for a shift.
“Get pucks in their zone. Arizona did a good job of containing us or forcing us to play a few shifts in a row in our zone. We needed those momentum-shifting opportunities to be capitalized on and we did a decent job.”
With Bergeron and Chara still out, Backes has no qualms about being the leading — or perhaps, loudest — authority on the team. But as for his modeling career, post skate blade?
“A few inside (stitches), a few outside,” Backes said of the injury. “No worse for wear. Could have been a lot worse, looking at the video and knowing that there’s some sharp apparatus right by the money maker, my face. … (A modeling career) was voided shortly after birth, unfortunately. I’ve been married for 10 years, she still loves me. My daughter is a little bit scared of it. But I told her it will heal in time. … All good.”
Another look at David Backes' injury.
Guy can't catch a break. pic.twitter.com/VbfmUxUgnA
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 12, 2018
?FIGHT NIGHT?#NHLBruins Sean Kuraly drops the gloves with #GoSensGo Ben Harpur. Fight ends with Kuraly heading down the tunnel pic.twitter.com/1DVP8u0vYh
— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) December 9, 2018