Bruins notebook: Brad Marchand fighting through scoring slump

Of all the various issues that have popped up throughout the season for the Bruins, perhaps the last thing anyone needed to to be worried about was a Brad Marchand scoring slump.

But make no mistake, that’s what we are seeing right now.

No, it is not like the B’s left winger has become invisible. He’s still maintaining a bar of activity and competitiveness to which many NHL players should aspire. In his last 17 games, he’s averaging well over three shots on net per game and he is picking up assists along the way. But in that timeframe, Marchand has just three goals.

That is not what we’ve gotten accustomed to with Marchand, nor has he. While saying part of it is just cyclical, Marchand acknowledged he’s been fighting it lately.

“It happens at times,” said Marchand, who is still well over a point-per-game average with 23-34-57 totals. “I think there were like three or four games where I had six-plus shots on net, some really good looks and it doesn’t go in. I missed a couple of prime opportunities, a breakaway and one in close that I should have had. And that happens. Sometimes you get two goals on two shots in a game and you can have a terrible game. It’s just how it goes at times and you’ve got to work through it. I haven’t been at my best, which directly affects my decision-making at times, so it’s getting back to being a little more simple and direct and maybe hanging around the net a little bit more.”

There are a couple of fairly major happenings that have occurred during Marchand’s power outage. There has been the line change that happened on Jan. 1 when David Pastrnak was was taken off the line. Craig Smith was first placed on it, for the past eight games, Jake DeBrusk has manned the right wing.

And, of course, he was also walloped with a throw-the-book-at-him, six-game suspension for his post-whistle punch and high-stick of Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry on Feb. 8. The tempestuous winger could be a little gun-shy.

“I would say Brad is working really hard not to let things bother him and get frustrated. That’s a useless emotion, so to speak,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “You can get angry and channel that into some energy. I think maybe he is being a little careful in certain situations that typically would get his motor running. And that’s OK. He’s just got to learn to play that way anyway. So this might be a little bit of the process as well.”

Marchand, having been through this re-entry process after being suspended seven times before, had somewhat foreseen that tentativeness would be in his game for a bit. It has come to fruition.

“It’s definitely there are times,” said Marchand. “I’m going to have to be cautious of that until I retire. It definitely kind of weighs on you, having two (suspensions) so close together (he got a three-gamer for an alleged slew-foot in November). It can’t happen again. It definitely weighs on your mind a bit. Also, I was out for two weeks and didn’t practice a whole lot. That takes a little bit of time to get that back as well. I’ve just got to work. I can’t have really any excuses for that. I’ve got to be a good player for this group and still play my game within those parameters.”

As for the line change, Pastrnak is clearly a special kind of offensive talent, but Cassidy doesn’t believe that has anything to do with it.

“Jake’s been playing well on that line. He’s done a good job there, so you can’t say ‘Well, they lost a guy,’” said Cassidy. “They were working with Jake for a while and they’ve had success. They had a great game in San Jose (when Marchand scored twice). So I think it will come back. But I think it’s a product of the season’s ups and downs. His execution’s been off and, don’t forget, he’s got a newborn. Maybe he’s putting some work in at home and he’s a little tired when he comes to the rink. That could factor in for guys at certain points of the year, for whatever reason it is. His could be being a new dad.”

Whether or not that’s the case, Marchand was one of the first regulars on the ice for Friday’s practice along with Taylor Hall, taking one-time passes from assistant coach Chris Kelly.

And, in the big picture, there is a very notable silver lining. Had Marchand experienced this drought prior to Jan. 1, it may have spelled doomsday for the B’s season before it really began, they were that dependent on his production before the lines were figured out. But with the depth they’ve created since the New Year, Marchand’s scoring woes have not slowed the B’s down a whole lot. They’ve now got a second bone fide scoring line with Hall, Erik Haula and Pastrnak, there’s now a unit with physical presence and a dash of scoring in Charlie Coyle‘s line and even the defense has been pitching in lately.

“That’s what makes good teams,” said Cassidy. “You can play through and get points when guys you expect to score aren’t. So I think that’s a real positive for our group, as long as Brad doesn’t let that bother him and understands the big picture. He’s too good a a player. He’ll work his way out of it and start getting his production numbers up. Hopefully it’s the next time out. But we’re getting other people stepping up and that’s a real good sign.”

Grzelcyk back at practice

After missing Thursday’s game with an illness, Matt Grzelcyk returned to practice on Friday and Cassidy is hopeful he’ll play on Saturday against the Coyotes.

“I assume he’ll be ready to. It’s not related (to the upper body injury that kept him out on Tuesday), so it looks like he’s feeling better,” said Cassidy.

This and that

Urho Vaakanainen, who has played just twice since suffering a concussion on Feb. 1, returned to practice in a red non-contact jersey. …

Jeremy Swayman will get the start in net against the Coyotes and Linus Ullmark is penciled in for the game in Chicago on Tuesday. …

With the Coyotes in town, B’s fans will get a good look at one of the club’s reported trade targets, defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Cassidy grew up with his father, former NHLer Jeff Chychrun.

“No insight on that deal,” said Cassidy with a laugh. “I do know Jeff very well. He’s from Ottawa. Might be one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. I talked to Jakob quickly in Arizona, mostly about his dad. And that’s the extent of it.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/nTJ4I6v