In search of offense, Bruins take on Auston Matthews and Maple Leafs

The Bruins will try to salvage something out of their three-game road trip when they conclude it with a tough matchup against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday night.

A difficult tilt will be made even harder with the return of Auston Matthews, who has been out of the Leafs’ lineup since December 20 with an upper body injury.

While there will be a focus on shutting down one of the NHL’s premier goalscorers, the B’s have to find a way to produce some of their own goals. After scoring just two goals in the first two games of the trip in Washington and New York, the B’s are ranked 29th in goals for and 31st in power-play.

Coach Joe Sacco feel that, with the chances that they generated on both those losses, the B’s are bound to break out.

“The concern level goes up when you’re not generating chances. We’ve done enough of that the last two games,” Sacco told reporters in Toronto after the morning skate. “We’ve had some Grade A looks, just not burying it in the back of the net. They will. Those chances will go in. They don’t stay out that long. You get more concerned if you’re not generating them. For us it’s just about bearing down on our opportunities when they come around.”

Sacco plans to keep his lines top-heavy with Elias Lindholm centering David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand with Charlie Coyle dropping down to center Pavel Zacha and Morgan Geekie.

“I thought they played well in New York for us. They generated some chances for us,” said Sacco. “I just like the way they played and it gives us the flexibility of moving Coyle back into the middle on that lines for another strong faceoff guy, especially on the road.”

Mark Kastelic, who’ll center a fourth line with wings John Beecher and Cole Koepke (Oliver Wahlstrom-Trent Frederic-Justin Brazeau is the other unit), goes into the game with some new security after signing a three-year deal worth an average annual value of $1.567 million.

“Certainly we recognize the value that he brings to our club, a physical player, he shows up every night, he’s a great pro,” said Sacco. “He’s a culture builder for our organization. He does everything that’s asked of him. He sticks up for his mates when he needs to. It’s a great signing. I’m happy for him and it’s certainly well-deserved.”

Marc McLaughlin will be the scratch up front while Jordan Oesterle is expected to sub back in for Parker Wotherspoon.

 

 

 

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/a6QOkeh