The Bruins have one recreation left earlier than the three-week Olympic break to do away with the style of their mouths from the blown four-goal lead within the Stadium Sequence recreation towards the Tampa Bay Lightning.
They are going to be going through a group that’s much more determined than they’re. The 2-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are 9 factors behind the B’s, who personal the second wild card spot, with 4 groups between them and the Bruins. The B’s, in the meantime, have a five-point lead on the closest group exterior of the playoff bracket, the Washington Capitals.
Each the B’s and Panthers are wounded. The B’s will nonetheless be with out their prime two centerman, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, whereas the Panthers’ Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell are all questionable.
“The message at present is that this can be a one-game mission for us. It’s two large factors,” coach Marco Sturm informed reporters in Florida. “I do know a variety of guys might have the Olympics of their heads a bit of, which is regular. However in some way we’ve got to discover a method to steal two factors from Florida. They’re in the identical boat. I don’t know who’s going to be within the lineup for them they usually have one other recreation left. It’s extra like a psychological recreation however we’ll do our greatest to make this occur.”
The B’s used Monday as a journey day with no apply and, after the loopy recreation at Raymond James Stadium, Sturm felt a bit of decompression was wanted.
“It’s an emotional occasion and I believe it’s factor to have a day in between,” mentioned Sturm. “Guys had been excited for apply and hopefully for recreation (Wednesday).”
The coach mentioned he did handle the place he felt his gamers’ efficiency was missing towards the Lightning.
“They dragged us in for some silly penalties,” mentioned Sturm. “We gave them life, we gave them hope, we gave them momentum. That’s one thing we’ve got to study from and transfer on.”
If Sturm was searching for one other problem for his gamers to not take silly penalties, he couldn’t discover a higher group to play than the Panthers….
With the harm to Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen, Joonas Korpisalo was named to Staff Finland for the Olympics, becoming a member of Bruin defenseman Henri Jokiharju.
“It means rather a lot,” mentioned Korpisalo. “Clearly, I really feel dangerous for Luukkonen. (Dangerous) time for an harm only one week earlier than the Olympics. However I’m completely satisfied to leap in and it’s an excellent honor.”
Korpisalo was 4-0-1 in January for the B’s.
“It’s nice information at present,” mentioned Strum. “He actually stepped up his recreation in all probability for the reason that Buffalo recreation (a loss on December 27). He deserved to be in there and I’m very completely satisfied for him.”
That makes eight gamers going from the Bruins varsity, plus Dans Locmelis (Latvia) from Windfall, going to Milan.
Sturm admitted to having some blended emotions about all these gamers going.
“Sure and no. Plenty of guys, and it’s an enormous month for us (in March),” mentioned Sturm. “However once more, I’ve been within the Olympics and I understand how nice it’s and the way necessary it’s to some gamers. I’m simply completely satisfied they’ve an opportunity to go. We’ll determine it out. We might do some off days for the blokes coming again and attempt to assist them to undergo this as soon as and be our greatest gamers.”
Sturm believes Elias Lindholm (Sweden) and Zacha (Czechia) are nonetheless a go for the Video games, however that call will not be within the B’s fingers.
“As of proper now, sure. However once more, they’re nonetheless not right here in order that’s not good. So which means they nonetheless have points,” mentioned Sturm. “However up so far, it’s in all probability extra as much as the (the respective federations’) docs than ours and their choice transferring ahead. I don’t know when (the deadline) is however hopefully each shall be OK to go.”…
Talking of goaltenders, Windfall’s Michael DiPietro was named the AHL’s Goalie of the Month. He posted a 8-1 report, a 1.34 targets towards common and a .949 save share. On the season, DiPietro has a 1.67 GAA, .940 save share and 18-5-0 report.
Contemplating the success of former prospect goalie Brandon Bussi in Carolina, will probably be attention-grabbing to see the lengths that the B’s will go to hold on to DiPietro. The 26-year-old netminder handed by way of waivers to go all the way down to Windfall firstly of the season however it could appear uncertain that he would clear once more subsequent season. He’s below contract for yet one more season whereas the 30-year-old Korpisalo has two extra years left on his deal….
A commerce free goes into impact at 3 pm on Wednesday and runs by way of February 22.
