Bruce Cassidy has options for the fifth man on the Bruins’ top power-play unit. The coach has tried Taylor Hall as the net-front player. Jake DeBrusk has done that job in the past and is a card Cassidy has yet to play this year.
But Cassidy, for the most part, likes what he’s seen from Nick Foligno in that spot despite the unit growing cold. The B’s man advantage is 2-for-15 in the last five games and their 0-for-3 showing was a major culprit in the B’s loss to the tight-checking Calgary Flames on Sunday.
“He’s done a good job recovering pucks. He’s done a good job being in there as a screen,” Cassidy told reporters in Buffalo prior to the B’s game on Wednesday. “His touches have been fine. I don’t think he’s had a ton of them. There’s not a ton of plays designed for that drop-off spot, to be honest with you. There are some when others are taken away, but I haven’t seen a lot of that yet. So his opportunities to finish around there have been limited. There’s not a lot of pucks passing through … (But) entries, we rely on (Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) more anyway. When Hall was there, he had a few more touches, but Nick’s never been a big entry guy so there’s not anything going on there. But I think he’s done a good job. The other night, we didn’t take care of the puck on some entries and that had nothing to do with him.”
The job seems made for Foligno, who is not afraid to take the old cross-check in the back, and it’s one he’s performed in his career in Columbus and Ottawa. Still looking for his first goal as a Bruin, Foligno had one assist in the seven games he’d played heading into Wednesday’s game.
“It’s an area that I enjoy,” said Foligno. “I think the most important part is that you’re big on retrievals and you have to be a big body (but) you’re not just a big body standing in front. There’s a skill to it in your positioning and how you get open for the guys when they’re bogged down. The one thing about these guys is that they’ve been together so long, it’s learning how they play. Obviously, being on the other side of it as a penalty killer, I knew their tendencies so it’s nice to be standing there and reaping the benefits of how they play. So I’m just trying to complement that, trying to be a guy that gets pucks back for them, trying to create havoc in front to allow those guys to use their skill and then hopefully bang home a few that come in that area.”
Frederic remains out
Trent Frederic remained out of the lineup on Wednesday and Cassidy said he’s doubtful for Friday’s matinee against the Rangers. While he’s getting close to being ready to play, Cassidy also gave a vote of confidence to Anton Blidh as the fourth-line left wing.
“(Frederic) just needs to practice,” said Cassidy. “A little bit of live practice (Tuesday) was good for him. He got some work in. The conditioning factor when you’ve missed that much is still an issue. I would say (he’d be ready) a little later in the week because we won’t practice (on Thanksgiving) and Friday there’s no morning skate, so I just think he needs some reps. And not only that, Blidh has done his job. He’s done what’s asked. He’s been fine in his role. He’s been consistent. Discipline’s been good. He’s effective on the forecheck. He’s made a few plays and blocked some shots. There’s no hurry to take a guy out that’s playing well, either, so we’ve got to consider that.”
Ullmark ‘tweaks’ something
Cassidy said that goalie Linus Ullmark, the scheduled starter for Wednesday, “tweaked” something in the morning and was a game-time decision. If he could not go, Jeremy Swayman would have been the only option. If Ullmark’s issue lingers, the options in Providence are Kyle Keyser and Troy Grosenick.
As for the rehabbing Tuukka Rask, who remains a free agent, he’s been working out at Warrior Ice Arena, but to Cassidy’s knowledge he’s not any closer to a return than the original target of January or February.
“I assume he’s not ready to play hockey. But I saw him on the ice. He’s working out. He’s in full equipment, so obviously a step closer to getting there,” said Cassidy. “But my understanding, and again I don’t check in on it every day, is that he’s still on schedule … he might be a little ahead of schedule but I don’t see anything before Christmas, but that’s what I was told.”