The film might say otherwise, but Jake DeBrusk doesn’t feel any worse for wear going into Game 2 tonight against the Maple Leafs.
“One hundred percent,” DeBrusk said with a smile when asked about his health.
The 22-year-old winger received his fair share of bumps and bruises during Boston’s 4-1 loss to Toronto in Game 1 on Thursday — at one point leaving the contest for a bit after slamming into the end boards while trying to thwart a shorthanded breakaway for Mitch Marner.
Jake DeBrusk is not on the ice for practice today.
He said last night that he was "100 percent' after slamming into the boards while trying to stop Mitch Marner on a shorthanded breakaway. pic.twitter.com/qJa4IAkIpf
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 12, 2019
DeBrusk was also on the receiving end of a concerning hit from
Nazem Kadri
on Thursday, as the Leafs pivot clipped him into the glass after DeBrusk had already cleared the puck back toward the half wall. While DeBrusk downplayed any ailments he suffered postgame, he did not practice with the rest of the team on Friday — with
Bruce Cassidy
labeling it as a “maintenance day” for the forward.
Kadri takes down DeBrusk and continues chirping at him on the bench. pic.twitter.com/fnmfvdAgiG
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) April 12, 2019
During Saturday’s optional skate at Warrior Ice Arena, Cassidy wasn’t ready to fully commit to DeBrusk making a return later that night, but the signs are pointing to No. 74 remaining in his usual spot with
David Krejci
and
Karson Kuhlman.
“Some guys are out there skating, obviously,” Cassidy said.” Jake missed yesterday, he’s out there. There'll be a domino effect on how guys are. ... I anticipate he’ll play, but I don’t want to start going through lines if it’s a waste of everyone’s time.”
For DeBrusk, getting back out on the ice Saturday was a good way to get back up to speed, but he’s not too concerned with his status going into Game 2.
“There’s a couple hits that I took … not necessarily a big concern of mine,” DeBrusk said. “Just more so want to get out there on the ice early. I had the day off yesterday, so just wanted to get moving, so that’s the only reasoning. “
As for the late hit he received from Kadri on Thursday, DeBrusk did note that he had a few issues with the play — but generally opted to take the high road:
“It’s playoff hockey … my thoughts when I look at the hit, I understand that there’s times where you get hit,” DeBrusk said. “I thought it was, personally, possibly, a slew foot. But I think I looked at it and it’s just playoff hockey. That’s just how it goes some times. I’m not really too focused on that play or that individual. I think it’s more so focused on our game and in this room. Hopefully we can respond physically and mentally and that’s kind of how we’re taking it.”
Backes back in
Cassidy confirmed that
David Backes
will be back in the lineup for Game 2 after sitting out of Thursday’s game, with the power forward expected to
and ideally slow down Toronto’s top weapons up front in the offensive zone.
While Backes adds a heavier body to the lineup, Cassidy noted that the veteran alone can’t be expected to Boston’s sole physical presence out on the ice. The addition of Backes might help Boston’s checking line — featuring
Noel Acciari
and
Chris Wagner
— get back on track after they were out-attempted, 7-0, in just over two minutes of 5v5 TOI Thursday.
“More physical game.” Cassidy said of what he expects to see out of Wagner, who led Boston with 247 hits this season. “Harder on pucks. It’s the message to our whole team. You’ve got to win your races, that’s why we talk about having some foot speed in the lineup. But then you’ve got to win your pucks. Races to win those pucks, physicality, smarts, good sticks, legs. They were better than us at that. We weren’t prepared to win those pucks. We have to correct that quickly.”
Carlo looking to settle in
When the puck was dropped on Thursday at TD Garden, three Bruins skaters officially recorded their first playoff appearance up in the NHL ranks —
Karson Kuhlman, Connor Clifton
… and
Brandon Carlo
.
With 230 career games with the B’s under his belt, Carlo is far from a rookie, but a concussion in 2016-17 and fractured ankle in 2017-18 prevented the 22-year-old from taking part in postseason action during each of Boston’s last two trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While he’s been one of Boston’s steadiest contributors on the blue line this season, Carlo went through the expected postseason jitters on Thursday night — as he misplayed a couple of pucks in the early going.
However, despite primarily matching up against
Auston Matthews’
line, Carlo held his own — with Boston holding an 18-9 edge in shot attempts and 9-6 advantage in shots on goal during the 10:52 of 5v5 TOI in which both skaters were out on the ice.
Aside from a few hiccups with the puck, Cassidy expects Carlo to continue to settle into a groove for Game 2 — and Boston is going to need him.
“Matthews made a good move on him,” Cassidy said of Carlo’s play. “I think he thought, reading the play, it was going to be a kick out. He did it to (Connor) Clifton on the other side. So obviously when he has a head of steam, Matthews, he’s dangerous. And that’s why you really got to work from the middle out. It’s one of the strengths of his game. … We need to force pucks out his hands sooner.
"But that was it for Brandon. Other than, like I said, early on, he wasn’t as comfortable as he typically is with the puck. I think that’s normal for a guy playing his first playoff game. He just needs to get that out of his system and I thought as the game goes on tonight, hopefully he’s a little more assertive with his play. He is what he is. He’s not Torey Krug, but he is assertive.”