Krejci Ready To Break Out: 'I Owe It To These Guys'
BOSTON (CBS) -- David Krejci usually finds himself atop the leaderboard when it comes to NHL postseason points.
During Boston's Stanley Cup run in 2011, Boston's top-line center had 12 goals and 11 assists in 25 games. In last year's run to the Cup Final, Krejci had nine goals and 17 assists in 22 games.
But frustration has set in during the 2014 playoffs, as Krejci has just three assists in 10 games. He has just one assist in five games against the Montreal Canadiens, but vows to break out of his slump as Boston looks to close out their Conference Semifinals Monday night in Montreal.
"When you're not doing well you need different guys to step up and that's what you need in the playoffs. I believe my time is about to come and I'm going to be big for my team. I owe it to these guys, so I'm going to do everything I can to start tonight," Krejci told reporters in Montreal after Monday's morning skate.
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"As a player, you have to realize that every single guy goes through stuff like that at one point," he said. "I believe I've been pretty good in the past. I know we don't live in the past, but I've been in a position before and I know I can be the player, so I'm trying to stay positive, go out there work hard. My teammates have been doing a pretty good job of winning the hockey games, so I believe my time is just around the corner."
Krejci doesn't slump too often, and when he does it doesn't usually last this long. While he's frustrated with his play he's glad that his team is one win away from advancing, and will do everything in his power to regain his postseason magic from years past.
"I want to help the team as much as I can," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to put the puck in the net. But it's a team sport and if we win this game we're in the next round. All my focus is to just do the job. Whatever it takes -- faceoffs, block shots, whatever. I'll do it but my focus is to put the puck in the net."
Krejci's linemates, Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla, have also struggled, combining for just three goals in the series. But both looked better in Boston's 4-2 win in Game 5 on Saturday night, and while Krejci's struggles continued, he too looked better. Krejci is still playing well for Boston on the defensive end and at the face-off dot, and 98.5 The Sports Hub's Bob Beers hopes that his offense catches up with the other parts of his game.
"He's still fumbling the puck a little bit, but you like the way he competed in (Game 5)," Beers said on Sunday night's Sports Final on WBZ-TV. "He's still being put out in important defensive situations and doing the job in those areas, so you hope the offense follows for him."
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