Bruce Cassidy considers backing off on ice time for his workhorses - The Boston Globe
Their lead in the Atlantic Division approaching Barcalounger comfort levels, the Bruins enjoyed a Sunday of slippers and naps after their proficient 4-0 dismissal of the Islanders the day before at Nassau Coliseum.
Backed by Tuukka Rask’s fourth shutout of the season, they awoke Sunday with 16 games remaining in the regular season and a 7-point bulge over the Bolts, who learned over the weekend that they will be without star forward Steven Stamkos (surgery to repair abdominal/core injury) until at least the start of the postseason next month.
The Bolts, with a game in hand, might not be fully focused in the Bruins rearview mirror, but they also aren’t that object closer than the sideview mirror indicates. The Bruins own the league’s best record (41-13-12) and appear poised to wrap their sweaty leather mitts around their first Presidents’ Trophy since 2014.
“The Bergys, the Zs,” said Cassidy, identifying the likes of Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara as a couple of other guys who might be backed off slightly down stretch. “And McAvoy’s played a lot of minutes, so maybe he needs a day off down the road.”
Cassidy also added core performers David Krejci, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak (league-leading 47 goals) as others who potentially could see a slightly TOI slimdown, all in the spirit of managing their fatigue levels, both mental and physical, as the prospect of potentially playing into mid-June again approaches.
“I mean, I feel good,” said McAvoy, whose 21:30 in ice time Saturday ranked third on the club, behind Brandon Carlo (22:59) and Chara (21:49). “I am sure that is something that we’d have a conversation about. Whatever he does, we trust him. He always has the best interests of his players in mind — so whatever minutes it is, I try to do the best I can for the team.”
Their lead in the Atlantic Division approaching Barcalounger comfort levels, the Bruins enjoyed a Sunday of slippers and naps after their proficient 4-0 dismissal of the Islanders the day before at Nassau Coliseum.
Backed by Tuukka Rask’s fourth shutout of the season, they awoke Sunday with 16 games remaining in the regular season and a 7-point bulge over the Bolts, who learned over the weekend that they will be without star forward Steven Stamkos (surgery to repair abdominal/core injury) until at least the start of the postseason next month.
The Bolts, with a game in hand, might not be fully focused in the Bruins rearview mirror, but they also aren’t that object closer than the sideview mirror indicates. The Bruins own the league’s best record (41-13-12) and appear poised to wrap their sweaty leather mitts around their first Presidents’ Trophy since 2014.
“The Bergys, the Zs,” said Cassidy, identifying the likes of Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara as a couple of other guys who might be backed off slightly down stretch. “And McAvoy’s played a lot of minutes, so maybe he needs a day off down the road.”
Cassidy also added core performers David Krejci, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak (league-leading 47 goals) as others who potentially could see a slightly TOI slimdown, all in the spirit of managing their fatigue levels, both mental and physical, as the prospect of potentially playing into mid-June again approaches.
“I mean, I feel good,” said McAvoy, whose 21:30 in ice time Saturday ranked third on the club, behind Brandon Carlo (22:59) and Chara (21:49). “I am sure that is something that we’d have a conversation about. Whatever he does, we trust him. He always has the best interests of his players in mind — so whatever minutes it is, I try to do the best I can for the team.”
