Bruins notebook: Erik Haula doing his best to solidify second line center job

Erik Haula has been given a great opportunity and, to be sure, he has not dropped the ball.

Inserted as the centerman between Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak, Haula at first simply did a good job of facilitating for his star wingers. Now he’s beginning to supply some production of his own. Going into Monday’s game against the Kings at the Garden, Haula had put together a six-game point streak on the Bruins’ recently completed 5-1 road trip (three goals,five assists).

When he was placed between the two high-powered wings, there seemed to be more hope than confidence that he would be the answer as the second line center but it safe to say he has exceeded expectations.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said, as of right now, it would be tough to move him out of that spot.

“I guess until you have a better option to consider, right?” said Cassidy. “We’ve had other guys up there and this seems to work the best for the team. He’s embraced it, done a nice job away from the puck, done a nice job in the circle, complementing those guys on the rush, he’s finished a few more plays than at the start the year. He’s going to the dirty areas. All the things you need to do that you’d want a player to do no matter who he’s playing with. But he’s embraced it so we’ll leave him there for now.”

There isn’t a “better option” inside the organization right now. Would there be one available by the March 21 trade deadline? How much more production can you expect from said option than you’re getting right now with the current trio? And if you do go out and somehow land a Claude Giroux or a J.T. Miller, would Haula’s effectiveness wane if he’s moved out of that spot and onto the wing somewhere in the lineup?

Perhaps Haula’s game — very slow to percolate in he first half of the season before he was placed in his current station — has gotten up to speed enough to where he can make a sizable contribution wherever they put him. He feels like he’s ready for anything.

“I try to take pride in being versatile and I want to win. That’s what we all want,” said Haula. “The trade deadline is the trade deadline. It’s in the back of everyone’s head in some sort (of way) I feel like, but it’s very much out of your control. It’s all about the team and all I can do is play as well as I can, in the position I am and that will benefit me the most going forward no matter what happens.”

As of right now, obtaining a new second line center would seem to be addressing an area of the lineup that doesn’t need all that much fixing. The chemistry on the line appears to be building.

“I think it’s just getting familiar with the tendencies of your linemates. Individually, you’ve got to find ways to help guys in different ways,” said Haula, who had 8-17-25 totals and was plus-7 in 53 games going into Monday’s game. “For me, I have an elite goalscorer and a great playmaker who can finish as well. They both like to have the puck. It’s been ‘what can I do to help these guys find more space? What can I do to help them create more?’ And obviously the defensive side is something that I focus on a lot, seeing what I can do well so that we can have the puck and play offense more than defense. Just the tendencies, know where they are and what they like to do. We talk a lot depending on the opponent, how we can have the puck, how we can break out so we can be clean and attack. Just getting to know those guys has been huge and very early on it was an easy way for me to come in and simplify my game.”

Frederic back on third line

Cassidy had flipped bottom-six left wings Trent Frederic and Nick Foligno for the third period in Columbus, but flipped them back to start the game on Monday, reuniting Frederic with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith.

“I thought Nick had good jump, Freddy less so,” said Cassidy. “He got away from a little bit of what they did the night before in terms of puck possession, arriving on time with the forecheck, etc. Nick seemed to have a little more jump and so he got a few more minutes. We’re not down on Freddy. It’s going to happen from time to time that in-game we’ll make a switch. He’ll go back there tonight and hopefully all will be good again.”

Ullmark gets the nod

Linus Ullmark got the start against the Kings. He had one win in his previous four starts. For all intents and purposes, Jeremy Swayman has grabbed the No. 1 job, though in today’s NHL that does not mean Ullmark will be put in moth balls for a couple of weeks at a time.

“Swayman’s had a good run here and we’re getting to the point of the season where production matters. Early on, we were sorting through who’s the better (option) at any position,” said Cassidy. “Now you’re starting to see Sway separate himself a little bit, so now it’s up to Linus to accept that challenge and want the net back in terms of what can he do to help.”…

Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) is a game-time decision. If he can’t go, Jack Ahcan will draw in.

 

 

 

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Hcgk5p1