Kalman: David Pastrnak Set To Be Savior For Bruins' Slumping Offense
By Matt Kalman, CBS Boston
WILMINGTON (CBS) -- Bruins coach Claude Julien is doing all he can to not make David Pastrnak into a savior for a team that's lost five of its past six games and has scored two total goals in his past two games.
The second-year forward was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Thursday morning and he joined Boston for a late-morning practice at Ristuccia Arena. Pastrnak practiced at right wing on a line with center Patrice Bergeron and left wing Loui Eriksson.
After practice, Julien was asked if he was ready to use Pastrnak, who hasn't played in the NHL since Oct. 31 when he left the lineup because of a foot injury, as if he hadn't missed any time. After all, Pastrnak played two games on a conditioning stint with Providence and then went to Finland and played for the Czech Republic through their quarterfinal loss in the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The 19-year-old should be ready to rock and roll and match his 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 games from a year ago. His return to the lineup should start Friday when the Bruins start a five-game road trip in New Jersey.
"I saw him the World Juniors. I didn't get to see him in Providence. I know he was trying to catch up there a little bit as well," Julien said. "So we'll see where he's at. It's always the same thing with me. If I see he's going well, he'll be utilized more. If there's a little bit more rust than we expect, then I've got to make some decisions there. But it's nice to have him back."
The Bruins are in dire need of Pastrnak with Brad Marchand still suspended one more game and David Krejci out until a mystery time in the far-off future. Julien should be overjoyed to have a player with Pastrnak's skill set back into his lineup. It could mean fewer shifts for Landon Ferraro in the Bruins' top six. When Marchand returns from his suspension Saturday, Pastrnak's presence means Tyler Randell or Zac Rinaldo can sit out.
But Julien wanted no part of the idea that the Bruins are desperate for Pastrnak save the day.
"Well you shouldn't have to lean on a 19-year-old," the coach said. "We should be looking at the rest of our team. There's no reason why everybody else can't pitch in. But you know he has that ability to do well in those kind of situations. Hopefully he gets himself in those situations where he's able to help us produce."
Sorry, Claude, but when your lineup's relying on Brett Connolly and Ferraro to fill out your top six, you need someone with high-end skill, regardless of age, to provide a boost. Pastrnak scored all of his goals and all but one of his points during a 36-game stretch from January through the end of March last season. If he can repeat that, the Bruins will definitely be in the hunt for the postseason.
He says his foot is all healed up and his finger injury isn't bothering him (we'll see about that when an NHL player gets an open shot at it).
When explaining the baffling decision to send Pastrnak to Providence and then to the WJC, general manager Don Sweeney often referred to a need for Pastrnak to build up his confidence. So how's Pastrnak's confidence?
"Definitely, I played there a lot. I played power play and everything on the team, so it helped me with my confidence," he said. "Right now I feel good and just how I said, exciting to play some hockey."
The best part of Pastrnak's game last season, after his enormous offensive talent, was his willingness to backcheck and battle despite a decided weight disadvantage. Unlike Ryan Spooner and others, Julien won't have to factor in a lack of desire to throw the body when doling out ice time.
Pastrnak's confidence is high, and that should make the rest of the team more confident. With Connolly and Ferraro in the bottom six, the Bruins can create more favorable matchups. With Pastrnak popping a goal here or there, the rest of the team (especially the goaltenders) will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
There's no other way to explain it. He's late-arriving because of Sweeney's decisions, but Pastrnak is finally with the Bruins to save the day.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
