Donnelly: van Riemsdyk's net-front prowess is invaluable for new-look Bruins power play

James van Riemsdyk did what the Bruins are paying him to do on Saturday night. 

The veteran winger picked up his first two goals in the Black and Gold, twice cashing in on the doorstep while on the power play. 

It was a callback to what has made van Riemsdyk so successful as an NHLer over the last 14 years with over a quarter of his 302 career goals have come on the man advantage (89) – nearly all of them around the front of the net. 

He picked up his first thanks to a bit of good fortune when his centering pass deflected in off Nashville's Dante Fabbro right in front of the crease, but his second, which proved to be the game-winner, came by way of a masterclass in hand-eye coordination, even while engaged in a net-front battle in a bang-bang play off a face-off. 

"Obviously anytime you have your first one, it definitely helps you relax a little bit as far as just sort of just going to play hockey a little bit more," van Riemsdyk said postgame. 

JVR's prowess around the crease helped serve as the catalyst for a much-improved night on the power play after the B's put forth a disjointed 0-for-3 showing against the Blackhawks in Wednesday's season-opening win. Saturday saw the B's finish 2-for-5 with 10 shots, 11 scoring chances and eight high-danger looks, according to Natural Stat Trick. Individually, van Riemsdyk accounted for four of those shots, four of those scoring chances and four of those high-danger opportunities in 4:01 of power play time. 

"The power play, obviously I thought we moved the puck around pretty well and definitely the guys made some good plays to just get pucks to the net," van Riemsdyk said. "We kept it simple and tried to get some traffic and pucks down there, and then obviously, we got rewarded."

As the Black and Gold continues to adjust to a new-look power play, one that features van Riemsdyk in his net-front post in place of Tyler Bertuzzi and the left-handed Pavel Zacha in the "bumper" instead of the right-handed Patrice Bergeron, JVR's ability to create opportunities for himself and others around the net adds another dangerous option. His line with Zacha and David Pastrnak was also a monster in 6:30 of 5v5 ice time with Boston dominating in shot attempts (8-3), scoring chances (5-0) and expected goals (81.41 percent). 

“He allows you to make a lot more plays low, just because of his ability to tip pucks,” Jim Montgomery said. “Everybody sees, I mean that second goal is incredible. But the plays that we go down low, he has the poise and he makes really good decisions, and they have to be split-second decisions.”

His prowess when it comes to tips, deflections and playmaking in tight spaces can open up more space for Zacha in the bumper or Pastrnak and Brad Marchand on the flanks. It should also give Charlie McAvoy the confidence to fire more pucks on goal, something the Bruins want to see him add to his game. It paid off in a major way when JVR got his stick on a quick-release wrister from McAvoy in the third for his second goal of the game.

"I gotta get out there for him," McAvoy said. "You know, he's made a career in this league out of getting there, and he's shown in practice that he can do it. So, I gotta keep working on my chemistry with him, but I'm really happy to see him tip one in. It's a big goal for us tonight."

van Riemsdyk is a better player than he showed on a floundering Philadelphia Flyers squad last season, one that worked at a paltry 15.6 percent on the power play, finishing dead last in the league. It was the first year, outside of his rookie campaign, in which he was not on pace to crack 20 goals over a full 82 games. He might not have the same legs as he did in his prime in Toronto, but the scoring touch that made him a reliable goal-scorer is there, particularly in the dirty areas.

In one night, he matched his total power play output (two) from last season. Considering the weaponry Boston has at its disposal and the positive signs the man-up unit showed on Saturday, it's reasonable to expect his totals this season to blow 2022-23 out of the water. 

"It's a big part of my role," van Riemsdyk said. "My job here is to be effective there and again, there are great players that I'm on the ice with, so that makes it a lot of fun. Those guys make a ton of great plays, and it's my job to be around that and capitalize when it's my time to do that. So, it's great to be out there with guys who snap the puck around like that."

The B's still feel there's more for the power play to give, especially after their night-and-day showings in the first two games. With the lefty Zacha now in the bumper, things have been forced to shift ever so slightly and new tendencies need to be learned. Montgomery hopes the new looks can provide more unpredictability for a unit that has had some prolonged dry spells over the last few seasons. McAvoy feels it's a matter of time until they truly hit a consistent stride.

"Just reps, right? We gotta keep getting reps, and we'll keep working on it in practice and keep trying to get better," he said. "Moving the puck quick, and then when you get opportunities to get it to the net, get it to the net. So, that's sort of it, being quick, being decisive, trying not to get stagnant. When we can move, let's move, and decision-making wise, just being quick. ... That's anybody. I'm sure they'd be saying the same thing. When you get eight or nine power plays with whatever rate they had. It happens, especially this early. It happens there are times during the year when it happens. You just gotta get on reps and just sort of get comfortable with each other."

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On a personal note: Saturday night marked my last game covering the Bruins with BSJ as I have accepted a new position elsewhere. I can't thank Greg enough for the tremendous opportunity and guidance I've been afforded during my time here at BSJ. He took a chance on me and I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity to cover this team during such a pivotal stretch in its history, from the second half of last year's magical season, the playoff collapse, a pair of mega retirements in the offseason amid such turnover and of course, all the centennial fanfare over these last few weeks. It's been a blast. 

I'd also like to thank everyone out there who's read, subscribed and followed along over the last several months. Your passion and knowledge are part of what makes this little corner of the internet great, and it drove me to try to put my best foot forward with my coverage. 

Greg, John, Mike and the rest of the BSJ team work their tails off, and they consistently put out top-notch work. I'm glad to have been a part of it, and I can't wait to see it continue. I'll be reading along the way.