The good news?
Even though both David Pastrnak and Hampus Lindholm didn’t take part in Thursday’s practice session down in Florida, Bruce Cassidy doesn’t believe that Boston’s top sniper and first-pairing blueliner are going to miss a significant amount of time.
The bad news?
Pastrnak’s recent flare-up is still serious enough that the goal-scoring sparkplug is not going to get the green light for Friday’s anticipated matchup against the Bolts — a showdown that could reshuffle both teams' spots in the Atlantic Division standings.
David Pastrnak down the tunnel after this: pic.twitter.com/IRBuHdfshD
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) April 5, 2022
Still, with Pastrnak remaining on the road trip with Boston, Cassidy hasn’t ruled out the winger returning on Sunday in a matinee matchup against the Capitals.
"No, I don't think he's (out for) a while," Cassidy said of Pastrnak. "We listed him as day-to-day, he's still on the trip. I think if it was anything long-term, he would've gone home by now. Will he be ready Sunday? I guess when we get on the ice Saturday, if he's out there, we'll be able to give you a better idea then. But that's where he's at now."
As for Lindholm, who appeared to bang his knee during Tuesday’s loss to the Red Wings, Cassidy offered a sliver of hope that the B’s top deadline pickup could still play on Friday against Tampa Bay.
"(The medical staff was) hoping to get him on the ice today, didn't work out that way," Cassidy said. "I know he did off-ice (work). I won't rule him out yet."
Even though both Pastrnak and Lindholm’s status is a bit murky for the time being, Trent Frederic has been cleared from his upper-body injury and is expected to play with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith on Friday night.
Frederic’s physicality and improved board work will be a welcome addition to Boston’s forward corps, while Lindholm’s transition talents (if he’s cleared to slot in) will be key in limiting the offensive-zone time that the Bolts’ big guns are afforded.
But finding a depth option capable of stepping into Pastrnak’s skates on a high-flying second line? Well, that’s easier said than done.
Of course, there isn’t any spare part in the B’s system — let alone are there many players in the entire NHL – who can mimic Pastrnak’s goal-scoring prowess.
But for at least one game, Pastrnak’s trigger-happy role on that B’s second line is set to fall to a local product … who boasts just two games of NHL experience.
No pressure, kid.
Marc McLaughlin’s refined two-way game is what made him a hot commodity as a college free agent this spring, but Cassidy doesn’t want to pigeonhole the former BC captain as just a straight-line grinder up at the NHL level. Not when McLaughlin also wields a pretty deadly release, especially in Grade-A ice.
Of course, anyone who saw McLaughlin’s NHL debut against the Devils last week saw firsthand the damage that the forward can do when operating in high-danger areas with the puck on his stick.
Of course we need another look. pic.twitter.com/XPKwOGGbEN
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 1, 2022
He may not be Pastrnak, but if the Bruins are looking for a temporary stopgap, a player like McLaughlin could serve as a useful piece on that second line, especially if a playmaking weapon like Taylor Hall is the one orchestrating these quality looks.
"If you watch him shoot the puck, he can shoot the puck past the goalie on a consistent basis," Cassidy said of McLaughlin’s offensive talents. "That's what Pasta does, he shoots, he makes plays. Having a guy that shoots the puck, could put him in a position to have some success in a higher spot in the lineup. But I think time will tell."
Of course, a more seasoned veteran like Smith could have also served as a useful replacement in a top-six spot. But with Frederic cleared for game action, the Bruins likely don’t want to disrupt the momentum that a Frederic-Coyle-Smith line has been able to generate — with Boston outscoring opponents, 14-4, in that trio’s 231:25 of 5v5 ice time together.
Considering both that third line’s recent excellence and Jake DeBrusk’s scoring salvo up on the top line, the Bruins still have plenty of firepower available for Friday’s matchup even without Pastrnak — especially if Hall is continuing to drive play with regularity (22 points in his last 23 games).
McLaughlin might have a tall task in front of him given both the opponent and which player he’s set to replace on Friday. But Cassidy and Co. aren’t looking for him to re-invent the wheel when it comes to his style of play down in Tampa.
Hang around in Grade-A ice, keep your head up — and there’s a good chance a biscuit is going to land on your stick.
“He's definitely a guy that can shoot the puck,” Cassidy said. “Looks like he's made some small area plays. Playing with that line, there is some of that involved. He can keep up. Give them a little bit of a net-front presence as well. … That's the obvious hole we have with Pasta, so we'll give Marc a look there."