Bruins Notebook: Charlie Coyle lands on COVID list

The Bruins’ good fortune of staying off the COVID-19 protocol list ran out on Wednesday.

Charlie Coyle, who participated in the morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, was unavailable for Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals after being placed on the National Hockey League’s COVID-19 protocol list.

It is not known what landed him there, whether it be symptoms, a positive test or close contact with an infected person.

The B’s had been expecting a full complement of their centers with David Krejci on the verge of returning, but the Coyle absence will create another whole for coach Bruce Cassidy to fill.

While some teams had been hit hard with players on the COVID-19 list, the B’s had avoided having anyone placed on it since the start of the season.

Coyle was coming off one of his best games of the season, a two-goal performance in the B’s 4-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday.

That forced Cassidy to scramble three of his four forward lines for Wednesday’s game. Jack Studnicka, who was supposed to center a new fourth line, was bumped up to center a third line with wings Trent Frederic and Jake DeBrusk, who had been expected to play right wing next to the returning Krejci. Craig Smith bumped up to that spot instead.

Grzelcyk hoping to stay healthy

This season was supposed to be a big step in Matt Grzelcyk‘s career, moving up to top-four duty as well as picking up Torey Krug‘s time on the first power-play unit. But because of a couple of injuries — the most troublesome being a soft-tissue injury — Grzelcyk was playing just his seventh game on Wednesday and first since Feb. 10.

He was hopeful he was back in the lineup to stay.

“It’s been tough, to be honest,” said Grzelcyk after the morning skate. “I’m trying not to get too down. It’s been exciting to see the team come together and play well. I think we’ve done a great job battling through adversity, but of course you want to be there and joining your teammates. This time there was quite a lot of frustration, just wanting to take some time off for a couple of games, then come back and have it happen again. It’s unfortunate. But there’s still a lot of games left but I think the focus was not to come back until I’m 100% ready. I feel confident.”

The question with Grzelcyk has always been whether his 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame would be able to withstand pounding that comes with a top-four defenseman role. But he said his ability to absorb hits — or, better yet, avoid them — wasn’t part of this equation during his latest absence.

“The injuries I’ve had haven’t been (from hits),” said Grzelcyk. “Obviously, I try to be a little bit aware, being a smaller defenseman, not putting myself in a vulnerable position. It’s something I can always work on and it’s something that’s always been preached to me. I always want to compete but at the same time I do have to be smart in certain places. I think that’s what’s a little frustrating this time is that it hasn’t come from that sort of thing. It’s more soft tissue and not being able to skate at full ability. That’s something my game relies on. That’s probably my biggest asset. And when that’s not going, I don’t exactly have the physical capabilities to be pushing guys around in front of the net. It’s a little bit frustrating but I’m feeling good right now.”

Tinordi checks in

If Bruce Cassidy was inclined to give Jarred Tinordi another day of practice to get acclimated with the Bruins’ way of life, the big defenseman’s eagerness to get back in an NHL lineup apparently won the day.

Wearing No. 84, the 6-foot-6 Nashville castoff was in the lineup against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, his first game action since Feb. 18. He was set to play on a third pairing with Connor Clifton, at least to start.

Claimed by the B’s on Saturday after being waived from the Predators, Tinordi made the 17-hour drive from Music City to Boston by car, cleared all his COVID-19 protocols to participate in Tuesday’s practice, and was in the lineup on Wednesday.

“We had a conversation this morning and I wanted to make sure he was in a good place in terms of his travel here and getting enough reps. He felt comfortable. He wants to get in,” said coach Bruce Cassidy after the morning skate.

This is Tinordi’s fifth NHL organization after being drafted in the 2010 first round by Montreal. He’s played just 88 NHL games. His 28 games in Nashville last season were the most games he’s played in an NHL season.

Cassidy said he could be moved around a bit as the coaching staff learns more about Tinordi’s game. System-wise, Cassidy didn’t expect that part of the transition to be overwhelming for him.

“(The Predators) have some similarities to us in terms of layers. They’ll close off and chase up a little higher, so we talked to him about that, where his dead areas and where he’s got to pull back in front of the net,” said Cassidy. “The neutral zone I don’t think will be anything a whole lot different. Then puck play is what you see and what we’re looking for from night to night, what do we want to do and what is the opposition doing. So that one is on the player to make the best available play and take the best available option. (The penalty kill) I don’t imagine will be a ton different. He’s a big body, long stick, so take care of the net of the front of the net and play your game.”

Grzelcyk appreciates Big Z

With Zdeno Chara making his return to the Garden for the first time since signing with Washington, Grzelcyk reflected on Chara’s brand of leadership meant to him as a young player.

“He’s such a great guy and an unbelievable leader, especially coming up as young guys, he was communicating with us quite well. He was always positive, never speaking down to us, always making us feel welcome in the locker room,” said Grzelcyk. “That can be nerve-wracking when you’re trying to find your way in the league. To have him come up and speak to me not only about hockey but life in general is something I’ll always cherish.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3kJeP9l