With Game 5 looming between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins saw some progress from four of their injured players. The Bruins are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NHL playoffs and it seems like their depth will be getting a huge boost. Two defensemen and two forwards are either ready to return to the lineup or will be available for duty soon, which would give Head Coach Jim Montgomery more matchup options as the postseason continues.
Defenseman Derek Forbort has been practicing with the team and is not available to return to the lineup if the team sees fit. The Bruins placed Forbort on long-term injured reserve in early March after he underwent surgery on two significant injuries, according to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. At the time, Sweeney thought Forbort’s season was in jeopardy, and the veteran blue liner was told by surgeons it would be a lengthy recovery. Forbort played in 35 regular season games and was a plus-8 and provided solid shot-blocking and penalty-killing.
Forward Justin Brazeau had a short yet productive stint with Boston toward the end of the season, totaling five goals and two assists in 19 games. However, on April 2, in a road win over Nashville, Brazeau suffered an upper-body injury and has been out since. On Monday, Brazeau was a full practice participant with a regular jersey and is ready to return to the lineup if needed. The 26-year-old winger’s 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame could be useful as the Bruins face heavier competition.
Defenseman Andrew Peeke has been out with a hand injury that was suffered in Game 2 of the Bruins’ series with Toronto. One of the team’s best penalty killers, Peeke, has been missed but did skate on Monday at Warrior Ice Arena before the team practiced. The defenseman, who was acquired from Columbus before the trade deadline, is still considered week-to-week.
Forward Matt Poitras who has been out of the Bruins’ lineup since early February when the 19-year-old had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. General manager Don Sweeney said the team’s medical staff recommended the procedure rather than have Poitras continue to play with an unstable shoulder and risk further damage that was caused last season with the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League. Poitras is out for the season but did skate with Peeke both practice on Monday.
The Bruins lead the best-of-seven series three games to one and play Game 5 in Boston at TD Garden Tuesday night. The Bruins had a similar advantage in the first-round last season versus Florida before dropping three straight games, which ended their historic season.
I wouldn’t rush Peeke back to the team, especially if Forbort is ready to go. Forbort is a great 3rd pairing defensemen and tremendous on the penalty kill with Carlo. Please don’t let Grzelcyk play during the playoffs, he just gets thrown around like a rag doll. He could get hurt really badly, all it would take is one dirty hit. If Forbort is 100% play him, just limit his ice time until he shakes off the rust. Defensive Pairings would look like this:
Lohrei and McAvoy
Lindholm and Carlo
Forbort and Wotherspoon or Shattenkirk
When Peeke gets back:
Lindholm 6′ 4″ 224 – McAvoy 6′ 1″ 210
Forbort 6′ 4″ 216 – Carlo 6′ 5″ 217
Lohrei 6′ 5″ 211 – Peeke 6′ 3″ 214
Now that’s a good, big, tough defense.
Extra defenseman Wotherspoon 6’1″ 195 – Shattenkirk 6′ 0″ 203 – Grzelcyk 5′ 10″ 175
I like the lines tweaked a little bit like so because the 1st is obvious, moving Heinen to the second line the Bruins don’t lose any speed. By placing van Riemsdyk, Frederic and Geekie on the 3rd line, it becomes the Bruins shutdown line against the Leafs top line. The 3rd line has speed, they can score, they will be given instructions to be very physical against the defensemen while forechecking and play hard against the Leafs top line.
The 4th line will be given the similar instructions since “The Big Rig”, Beecher and Lauko love to take the body. Pucks deep softly into the corners or hard off the goaltender and then punish the defensemen while forechecking. At least that would be my plan for the 3rd and 4th lines to slow down the Leaf’s breakouts by defensemen.
The Bruins top lines, 1 and 2 will need to go into the offensive zone, heads up and get the puck deep softly or skate the defense back on they’re heels to open up room to make plays with speed, pace and open up the passing lanes to get quality shots and quality scoring chances. All 4 lines must have net front presence, without interfering with the Leafs goaltender and try to make the defensemen follow them. It’s time to finish the Leafs at home. Let’s go Bruins, Let’s go Bruins!
1. DeBrusk, Zacha and Pastrnak
2. Marchand, Coyle and Heinen
3. van Riemsdyk, Frederic and Geekie
4. Maroon, Beecher and Lauko
Boqvist and Brazeau