Bruins Notebook: B’s not changing game plan despite new Predators coach; moms make trip to Nashville

So far this season, there have already been six head-coaching changes in the NHL — mid-season moves designed to right the ship for their respective franchises. 

The results so far have been pretty positive.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone 15-4-1 since replacing Mike Babcock with Sheldon Keefe, Geoff Ward has posted a 10-5-1 record with Calgary and Rick Bowness is 7-3-1 with Dallas. 

Nashville is looking for a similar bounce back in the second half of the 2019-20 campaign, with the 19-15-7 Preds looking to get a spark from new bench boss John Hynes — starting with Tuesday’s matchup against the Bruins. 

Hynes, named as Nashville’s head coach on Tuesday morning after the club parted ways with Peter Laviolette on Monday evening, wasn’t going to have much time to incorporate any sweeping changes to the Predators’ system or structure given the short turnaround since taking over the club. 

As such, Bruce Cassidy noted Tuesday morning that the Bruins aren’t radically adjusting their game plan against Nashville — given that Hynes hasn’t had much of a window to leave his fingerprints on this current Predators roster. 



Even if Hynes does incorporate some strategies from his four-plus years as Devils’ head coach, Boston hasn’t had much trouble against the New England native during his tenure in New Jersey, with the Bruins holding a record of 11-3 and a plus-15 goal differential in 14 career games against Hynes. 

"We went through all of our stuff as if they're going to keep a similar system," Cassidy said on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena. "We've seen Jersey over the years, so we have that in our back pocket. We may throw a couple of clips in that they might switch to, that we've seen in the past, but it might be a little bit in special teams. I don't know if I was put in that situation how much you could expect to change in one morning. I have a feeling that they'll just want to go out and play, compete hard. That will probably be the message and tweak stuff as they go."

Bruins taking part in Moms Trip: 

The slumping Bruins will have plenty of motivation for Tuesday’s game, as the team brought along close to 20 of their mothers for the road matchup down in Nashville. The group all attended Boston’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday before joining the team for on its chartered flight down to Nashville.

The moms were back in attendance for Tuesday’s practice at Bridgestone Arena, and will be cheering on their sons later tonight. 

“I think it’s great for the players,” Cassidy said. “I wish I had that opportunity when I was younger. Just that they see a little bit of a different side of their sons and how they interact in their work environment. And they get to know the other moms that have been through a lot of similar ups and downs throughout the careers of their sons, obviously. Share stories and probably lean on each other a little bit, as well. I think it’s great.” 

Nashville might have a bit more to play for in Hynes’ first game behind the bench. But with Boston stuck in a 4-5-6 rut in its last 15 games, Cassidy believes this trip might come at the perfect time for his club to both take their minds off the standings — and play with an extra jump on Tuesday. 

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“I think any time is a good time to be honest with you,"Cassidy said. "Right now, yeah, it's good timing. Nashville is a good city. Hopefully they get some decent weather to walk around and see a bit of the sights here this afternoon and see their boys play tonight. For us, yeah, it gives us a little bit more motivation. Nashville's got their motivation tonight with a new boss, so probably a little extra at stake for both teams."

Bjork ready for a top-six look: 

As expected, Anders Bjork will get a look in the top-six on Tuesday, skating to David Krejci’s right during Boston’s matchup against the Predators. 

A DeBrusk-Krejci-Bjork line has only skated together for a little over seven minutes this season, but given Bjork’s improved play and the encouraging underlying numbers in the winger’s game, a bump in minutes was overdue for Bjork. 

Bjork has primarily played over at left wing this season, but for now, Boston will keep a hot-and-cold Jake DeBrusk at that spot and slot over the Notre Dame product to right wing. 

"He's done better over there," Cassidy said of Bjork shifting to right wing. "He finds himself on that side of the ice. Someone has to go over there. I think he's earned a bit of a look there. We've used a lot of other guys. He was there when he first broke in, he played a bit with Krech. There is some familiarity and Jake at the time. 

"Maybe this time it will work out better for them as a line. I thought they had some success as a line and then there were some injuries that came into it. We'll get a look at it and see how it goes. Hopefully he doesn't put himself in bad spots. That’s what has happened in the past and he hasn’t done that this year. I think he’ll be fine there.”