Boston Bruins seems to continue their speed as they prepare for another Atlantic Division Matchup, this time against the host Ottawa senators on Thursday evening.
Points are a premium when the regular season ends, and Boston makes an unexpected fee after selling important assets at the NHL trade deadline. Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers was Bruin’s second straight after a three-game skid.
With Marat Khusnutdinov, Casey Mittelstadt and Henri Jokiharju who join the post of the aftermath of last Friday’s deadline, there are plenty of motivational factors for the team.
“We understand where we are in the position and what just happened to our group, but we have new players here. It’s an opportunity for these guys,” said Boston Interim coach Joe Sacco. “So, what motivates them – an underdog role, perhaps an opportunity they had anywhere else.
“… we want to see us meet as fast as we can.”
Playing good out of the gates is important for the newcomers, especially in the middle of a playoffs.
“Obviously you want to get out on the right foot and have a good first impression,” Mittelstadt said. “I think you just want to go out, play hard and show the team you want to compete.”
After Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and Captain Brad Marchand received, David Pastrnak was the team’s figurative leader when the Bruins returned home.
Pastrnak really leads on the ice, chipping in a goal and an assist on Pavel Zacha’s winner during the third period comeback from Down 2-0 against Panthers. But now he is looking more and more on the ice.
“He has been so good and just a natural leader,” said goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman. “He has been successful in this league for so long because he has been really high -quality leaders, and now he uses the tools he learned and reinforces it for his game and the guys in this dressing room.”
The Senators have strengthened their Wild-Card lead in the Eastern Conference during a victory with four games that continued with Tuesday’s 5-2 victory in Philadelphia. It was the second half of a back-to-back.
Bruins have meanwhile climbed back within two points from the playoffs, but remains tied with two other teams.
The Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk has thrived during this run, which has Ottawa who has been looking for his first playoffs since 2017. He has scored seven goals in the last seven matches.
“This stretch will make us who we are,” Tkachuk said. “This is a dream for me to be in the race, compete and bring what we want back to Ottawa. It won’t change.”
Dylan Cozens, which centers a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron, has given a spark since then acquired from Buffalo Sabers on Friday.
The 24-year-old is on a three-game points with goals during the last two competitions, including a game winner on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings.
“He is a nice player,” said first year’s senators coach Travis Green. “He’s very stretched. He’s hungry to win.
“He has made a good first impression on us for sure. … He is just fitting right in.”
The Ottawa newcomer agrees with Tkachuk about the excitement and intensity to play at this time of the season. Cozens has also not yet experienced the playoffs as his former team in Buffalo remains associated with a 13-year-old drought-the longest in NHL history.
“These big, meaningful games, you just stand so much more,” Cozens said. “You get so excited to play every night and go to war. I am excited for what will come.”
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