BOSTON — The Bruins had been left holding their collective breath simply midway by means of the primary interval of their matchup with the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Matt Poitras went down with what seemed to be an damage, taking a cross-check to the again from Ryan Lindgren that left him mendacity on the ice at TD Backyard. The B’s have seen comparable issues occur earlier than, with the second-year ahead’s younger profession being marred by accidents and inconsistencies.
Poitras flipped the script, although.
The Bruins didn’t have to fret concerning the 20-year-old tucking his tail, because the hit appeared to solely additional his want to make performs close to the boards and assist arrange his teammates for fulfillment — which he did. Poitras completed the victory with two assists, each of which got here after prying away pucks and feeding David Pastrnak.
It’s one thing the membership has been in search of.
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“It’s an excellent bounce again by Matty,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco mentioned on Saturday. “He will get up, he handles the hit properly, he shakes it off like hockey gamers do and he responded properly, too… It’s good to see him go on the market and have the ability to make a pleasant play to (David Pastrnak) on his first purpose. I’m completely satisfied for him, only a actually good job by him getting on the market at a crucial time and making an enormous play — twice!”
Boston is properly conscious that opponents are going to be bodily with Poitras, however as he continues to placed on weight and construct energy, they’re hoping he can proceed to bounce again the best way he did Saturday.
“It’s robust as a result of you need to permit guys to play with the boldness to make these performs,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy mentioned postgame, referring to Poitras. “… It’s robust. It’s a must to stroll that line between taking part in a sensible model, however seeing a man like that, you encourage him to make the performs he can as a result of he has the talent.
“He doesn’t get flustered, regardless that groups are going to play him laborious as a result of he’s not the largest man. He bounces again, he works laborious and he makes performs. He needs to personal the puck, he performs a puck possession recreation for somebody his measurement and he’s getting higher and higher.”
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The Bruins clearly are placing him in positions to succeed, as his major skating companions following penalty kills are Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie.
Not unhealthy.
Poitras has been capitalizing, too, with one other two-assist efficiency seemingly setting him up for elevated alternatives with the massive weapons — particularly if he can work by means of the ache as he did in opposition to New York.
“I simply stored doing my factor,” Poitras mentioned postgame. “I simply stored taking part in.”
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