Bruins
Justin Brazeau doesn't have the identical 0-60 acceleration as his teammate Johnny Beecher.
He doesn't have the blistering one-timer that's in David Pastrnak's arsenal, nor does he have the hands to hold past skaters to the identical degree as his captain, Brad Marchand.
However, the 26-year-old winger will not be nervous about any alleged restrictions.
Even though Brazeau has just 26 games under his belt as an NHL representative, he knows what form of player he’s.
Or perhaps more importantly, he knows what he must do to achieve success at the very best level of hockey.
And for the 1.90 meter tall striker, it's all about positioning himself on the front of the web.
“Just knowing who you are, what you do [well]what you’re good at on the ice — I never try to be someone I’m not,” Brazeau said Monday about his approach on the ice. “I mean, I always just go out there knowing exactly what I need to do to help the team. So I just have to focus on that.”
Brazeau's offensive skills might not be particularly flashy, however the Ontario product has the tools essential to do plenty of harm on Class A ice. While his 220-pound frame makes him a nuisance within the crease, his stick skills in tight areas and long reach make him a human Dyson in the case of slinging pucks through high-danger areas.
On a Bruins team that’s currently ranked twenty ninth in 5v5 high-danger scoring possibilities per 60 minutes (8.86), Brazeau was a welcome sight at the web front.
The powerful forward ranks second on the team with six scoring possibilities in 5-on-5 games, with 4 of them coming in his last two games against the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.
That's the type of response Jim Montgomery was counting on after beating Brazeau (one point in five games) against the Predators on Oct. 22.
“I think his stick was really good offensively, but especially defensively — causing turnovers in the D-zone and turnovers on the forecheck,” Montgomery said Monday. “And then we get to the areas where he is successful. … He knows what he is and he has shown what he is.”
After watching the 4-0 loss to Nashville from the ice, Brazeau responded with tallies in each games against the Stars and Maple Leafs on Thursday and Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, each goals were a direct results of Brazeau either knocking the puck off the goal line or waiting near the underside slot for an inevitable rebound opportunity.
“He’s so big at the net and skilled in the corners,” Marchand said of Brazeau on Saturday. When he gets there he’s dangerous and can make a difference. In that sense, it's great that he has this confidence now. … When you get a pair, that's exactly what happens, your confidence grows and builds, and that's why it's great to see from him. I’m sure he’ll only recuperate.”
Given Boston's lack of scoring opportunities (and the proven fact that pucks are completely shaky at 5-on-5), Montgomery is hoping that a move into the highest six for Brazeau will provide a lift to the Bruins' forward corps.
Brazeau skated with Boston's second line together with Marchand and Charlie Coyle during Monday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena – together with his netfront skills aimed toward improving a duo that has struggled in 5-on-5 play this season has thus far scored zero goals and only one point.
Fittingly, Brazeau isn't nervous about improving his approach when he lines up with Coyle and Marchand in Tuesday's home game against the Flyers. Chances are, his linemates know where to search out him within the offensive zone.
“I don’t think anything should change,” Brazeau said of adjusting his game toward a top-six finish. “I just have to do what I do best, create some space for these guys, try to be hard on the forecheck to help them get the pucks back, be at the net so when they make their plays and stuff like that , I'm here for the second opportunity. So I don’t think I need to change anything.”
Bruins make their rounds through the annual Halloween visit
As is tradition, the Bruins attended their annual Halloween hospital visits at Mass General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon.
After I made a decision on a current cinema theme last fall by dressing up as various “Barbie” and “Ken” dolls, The Bruins relied more on a throwback to costumes from the Pixar film “Monsters Inc.”
Marchand was appropriately given the role of wisecracking Mike Wazowski, while Trent Frederic stole the show because the film's gravelly-voiced secretary, Roz.
The Bruins have adopted various themes as a part of their annual Halloween visits over time. Beyond “Barbie” in 2023, more motifs included Nintendo characters in 2022 And “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 2021.
For Johnson, the waiting continues
Veteran forward Tyler Johnson practiced with Boston's essential squad again on Monday, but there isn’t any word yet on a contract for the 5-foot-10 skater. After transferring Riley Tufte to Providence in Boston on Sunday has projected cap space of $1,108,460, in accordance with PuckPedia.
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Montgomery didn't mince his words Monday when asked what Morgan Geekie (one assist in eight games) must do to get back to his standard level in 2023-24. “Play better,” said Boston’s bench boss.
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As for team-wide improvements, Montgomery wants the Bruins to proceed putting pressure on opposing players, as was the case in Saturday's additional time win over Toronto. “Our puck pressure last game was the best it's been in recent memory, but it's still not where it needs to be,” Montgomery said. “I wouldn’t call our team anywhere near relentless, and that’s our goal.”
image credit : www.boston.com