'The will that we have to win': Blocked shots become hallmark of Bruins' Cup run

ST. LOUIS — Joakim Nordstrom was sporting his fair share of bruises after the Bruins’ Game 2 overtime loss in the Stanley Cup Final.

The fourth liner has been one of the many key cogs in Boston’s bottom six that has elevated his game during the Bruins’ run to the Cup, tallying three goals and eight total points over 19 playoffs games — after posting 12 total points over 70 games during the regular season.

But the 27-year-old forward has also made his presence felt away from the stat sheet, blocking 17 shots — including six alone on Wednesday night against the Blues. Of those six — three came during a painful 50-second stretch during a four-minute PK sequence, with the hobbled skater taking a pair of blasts from Colton Parayko off of both of his skates in an effort to keep the puck from reaching Tuukka Rask.

Nordstrom eventually labored back over to the bench, drawing a standing ovation from a TD Garden crowd that had already seen Chris Wagner sacrifice his chance to play in a Cup Final by deflecting a slap shot in the Eastern Conference Final down in Raleigh.



Taking a disc of vulcanized rubber to both ankles isn’t going to feel great the morning after, but Nordstrom towed the company line when it came to weighing pain against the bigger picture.



“Those shots — they sting for a bit,” Nordstrom said. “But you obviously want to see them hit your pads instead of going by you and maybe going into the back of the net. It’s the will that we have. The will that we have to win. Blocking shots, taking hits to make plays. You see, we’ve been missing Wags for a couple of games for the shot that he blocked and the price that he paid to make sure that we’re here now.”

There have been multiple factors that have played into the Bruins’ success this postseason — secondary scoring, Tuukka Rask’s play in net, a power play that ranks second all-time in playoff action with a 35.9% success rate.

But Cassidy has been quick to praise the team’s overall commitment to defense that has put them over the top — especially during this latest run that has seen Boston win nine of its last 10 postseason games.

Blocking shots has been a key component of that equation, with the B’s averaging 16.6 blocks per game so far during the Stanley Cup Final. It’s been a slight uptick, but as a whole, the Bruins have been more than willing to sacrifice their body in an effort to snuff out an opposing scoring chance — averaging 14 blocks per game during series victories against the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets before averaging 15 a game during a four-game sweep against the Hurricanes.

So far against the Blues, both Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy have led the charge when it comes to getting in front of shot attempts — recording seven blocks apiece through three games, many of which have been in Grade-A areas of the ice.

(Zdeno Chara’s event map so far in the Stanley Cup Final - Note the Red “B” mark blocked shots).

(Charlie McAvoy’s event map so far in the Stanley Cup Final.)



“I think it gets emphasized,” Jake DeBrusk said of Boston’s adherence to blocking shots. “Obviously, whether it’s taking a hit or blocking a shots, it’s different elements. We play in layers in the defensive zone and obviously good player are going to make plays and guys are going to have to step up. You even saw last night, Pasta blocked a big shot there early in the game and Nordy two games ago. I think it’s more so the team emphasis.”

Taking the body has been a key facet in a Bruins’ penalty kill that has held the Blues to just one goal in 10 stints on the man advantage — and at one point killed off 19 straight power plays before Parayko finally lit the lamp at 5:24 in the third period of Game 3.

Of their five blocked shots during 4v5 play this series, four have come from regular fourth-line contributors in Nordstrom and Noel Acciari — who have averaged 2:10 and 1:57 of shorthanded TOI so far this postseason.

“I think his compete level might be the biggest thing,” Charlie McAvoy said of Nordstrom. “His hockey IQ is tremendous. When he’s killing, he just plays the right way. He’s in those pockets where you can find guys to make clears.

“He’s done an exceptional job of doing that, of getting the puck and breaking pressure. Blocking shots obviously. Those are the things that get us going on the bench. I think all of PKers have done a great job this series, especially him. He just wears his heart on his sleeve. He definitely gets us going.”

For all of the highlight-reel goals, OT winners and absurd stops by Rask in net, some of the top moments from this Bruins’ run have come away from the Grade-A areas of the ice — Wagner’s blocked shot against Carolina, Torey Krug’s destructive hit against Rob Thomas and Nordstrom’s painful PK shift.

For Cassidy, it’s the little things that occur throughout the course of a contest that can determine the difference between a postseason victory or a crushing loss — and that isn’t lost on Bruins fans.

“The crowd at this time of the year, any time of the year, especially in Boston, they're blue-collar, they appreciate the little things,” Cassidy said. “Nordy has been giving us that. Big reason where we are right now is that line as a whole has really delivered for us.”