Kalman: For Bruins To Be Playoff Threat, Krejci Must Play Center
WILMINGTON (CBS) – After getting shut out on 19 shots in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Bruins were desperate for a goal the second period of a crucial game against one of the bottom-feeders of the NHL.
As so often happens, center Patrice Bergeron scored the important marker that eventually earned the Bruins a point in the standings on their way to two after a victory in the shootout.
The way that goal was created was as important as the fact that it gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead. First Bergeron gained the zone and fired it cross corner and up the right wall, where right winger David Krejci kept the puck from passing the far right hash mark. Krejci fed left winger Brad Marchand below the goal line and Marchand set up Bergeron for the one-timer. Bergeron scored on the rebound of his own shot.
That scoring play was one of many glimpses of chemistry between Bergeron, Marchand and Krejci in the win against the Leafs. But prior to that win, there had hardly been any sign that coach Claude Julien's experiment to work Krejci back into shape after his multi-week injury absence as a winger was working. And Julien has a bit of a dilemma about how long to let this experiment last for the betterment of Krejci and the Bruins.
Krejci has three points in six games since his return, but the assist on Bergeron's goal Saturday has been his only point at even strength. Throughout that game, Krejci started showing a better idea of where Marchand likes to receive the puck when he's the late man on a rush, and Bergeron was doing a better job of finding Krejci on his way to the opposition net. But despite the improved results from that trio, one has to assume that Julien knows Krejci as a winger isn't the long-term solution if the Bruins are going to make a run once they're in the postseason.
At practice Monday, Julien was again mixing and matching his lines, including shifting Krejci to his natural position at center between long-time left winger Milan Lucic and newcomer Brett Connolly. As he did after practices and morning skates last week that featured different line combinations than the Bruins' games, Julien continued to stress after practice that these lines are not written in stone. Julien's first attempt to integrate Connolly and shift Krejci back to center resulted in one of the worst periods in the Bruins' season – the first period in Detroit last Thursday. The switch back to most of the lines that had success up to that point resulted in a comeback win. The Bruins have now won five in a row with mostly the same lines, including Krejci playing right wing.
These lines might be able to push the Bruins over the goal line and into the playoffs, but they might not help Krejci get into form in time to be the game-changer he has been in past playoffs. Julien is trying to balance a couple things as the playoffs pull near.
"David's played quite a few games now. So he can play center, he can also play wing," Julien said. "Again, I'm not going to say that you're not going to see him back on the wing again. And he doesn't mind. It's not like we're forcing somebody to go somewhere where they don't want to be. So we'll again continue to do whatever it takes to win games and hopefully be able, at the same time, get David's game to where he wants it and we want it to be."
There's little chance the Bruins become a threat to go deep in the playoffs if Krejci remains at wing. Krejci is not only a great player; he's a player that makes others better. Bergeron falls into that category as well. Having the two of them skate together is a waste and it's not doing justice to some of the Bruins' players that need to be carried. If you've been impressed with rookie David Pastrnak playing on a defensively-challenged line with Milan Lucic and Ryan Spooner, imagine him with a healthy Krejci as his center again. Brett Connolly has had untapped potential ever since Tampa Bay drafted him sixth overall in 2010. Bergeron and Krejci are the Bruins' best bet for getting the most out of the new right winger.
Loui Eriksson is another player that makes others play at a higher level. Down the road, Eriksson might be a perfect fit to play next to Bergeron and Marchand give the Bruins an amazing two-way first line. For now the Bruins' best bet is to keep balance in the lineup. Soderberg needs Eriksson like Linus (van Pelt not Arnesson) needs his blanket. Julien has to keep the Swedes together.
Julien has often stuck pairs of forwards together and rotated the third spot on his lines in past seasons. Marchand-Bergeron, Eriksson-Soderberg, Krejci-Lucic should be the starting point for the lineup. Beyond that there are interchangeable parts that bring different things to the table. All the Bruins complementary pieces with top-nine potential, though, require a high-end center to maximize their skills. That might not be Ryan Spooner's forte right now. Spooner might have to figure a way to contribute with fourth-line minutes and power-play time. Or possibly he'll have to jump on the wing here and there.
Just because Krejci can play the wing and is willing to do it doesn't mean that's where he should play. Krejci's at his best conducting the Bruins' offensive symphony from the middle and the Bruins are at their best when their two high-end centers are able to do their business from their natural position.
Krejci has to move back to center before the season is over. Depending how the standings play out the next few days, that change might have to come in a hurry.