The Boston Bruins look to continue their momentum as they prepare for another Atlantic Division matchup, this time against the host Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
Points are at a premium as the regular season winds down, and Boston is making an unexpected charge after selling important assets at the NHL trade deadline. Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers was the Bruins’ second straight following a three-game skid.
With Marat Khusnutdinov, Casey Mittelstadt and Henri Jokiharju joining the lineup in the aftermath of last Friday’s deadline, there are plenty of motivating factors for the team.
“We understand where we are in the standings and what just transpired with our group, but we have new players here. It’s an opportunity for these guys,” Boston interim coach Joe Sacco said. “So, whatever motivates them — an underdog role, maybe an opportunity they didn’t have somewhere else.
“… We want to see us come together as quickly as we can.”
Playing well out of the gates is important for the newcomers, especially in the midst of a playoff race.
“Obviously you want to get out on the right foot and have a good first impression,” Mittelstadt said. “I think you want to just go out, play hard and show the team you want to compete.”
After Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and captain Brad Marchand were dealt, David Pastrnak was the team’s figurative leader when the Bruins returned home.
Pastrnak certainly leads on the ice, chipping in a goal and an assist on Pavel Zacha’s winner during the third-period comeback from down 2-0 against the Panthers. Now, though, he is increasingly being looked to off the ice.
“He’s been so good and just a natural leader,” goaltender Jeremy Swayman said. “He’s had success in this league for so long because he’s been around really high-quality leaders, and now he’s using the tools he’s learned and augmenting it to his game and the guys in this locker room.”
The Senators have strengthened their Eastern Conference wild-card lead during a four-game win streak that continued with Tuesday’s 5-2 victory at Philadelphia. It was the second half of a back-to-back.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have climbed back within two points of the playoffs, but remain tied with two other teams.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has thrived during this run, which has Ottawa seeking its first playoff berth since 2017. He has scored seven goals in the last seven games.
“This stretch is going to make us who we are,” Tkachuk said. “This is a dream of mine to be in the race, compete and bring what we want back to Ottawa. That’s not going to change.”
Dylan Cozens, who is centering a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron, has provided a spark since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
The 24-year-old is on a three-game points streak with goals in the past two contests, including a game-winner Monday against the Detroit Red Wings.
“He’s a nice player,” first-year Senators coach Travis Green said. “He’s very coachable. He’s hungry to win.
“He’s made a good first impression on us for sure. … He’s kind of just fit right in.”
The Ottawa newcomer agrees with Tkachuk about the excitement and intensity of playing at this time of the season. Cozens also has yet to experience the playoffs as his former team in Buffalo remains mired in a 13-year drought — the longest in NHL history.
“These big, meaningful games, you just get up for them so much more,” Cozens said. “You get so excited to play every night and go to war. I’m excited for what’s to come.”
–Field Level Media
