Kalman: Improving Reilly Smith Might Soon Earn Some Love From Coach
BOSTON (CBS) - Bruins forward Reilly Smith is coming around.
The 23-year-old had a couple goals in the Bruins' first five games. Then he went into a drought that made his 20-goal first season with Boston a year ago look like a mirage. He still hasn't scored in the past nine games.
But Smith now has an assist in three of the Bruins' past five games. He's also plus-5.
His work along the wall in the Florida zone on Tuesday at TD Garden helped set up center Patrice Bergeron's goal in regulation that helped the Bruins win their third in a row, 2-1. Smith was also credited with three hits and two takeaways against the Panthers.
"Not forcing as many pucks," Smith said about his improved play. "Playing with a little bit more confidence, not forcing as much and kind of just being a little bit more patient and letting plays kind of happen before trying to force them and make them up myself."
The Bruins' best two-way line had the type of night we grew to expect from them last season. Smith had an assist and linemate Brad Marchand added the game-winning overtime goal to his assist in regulation. Center Patrice Bergeron scored the Bruins' other goal. It was the type of night that the line could build off. Unless you're the coach of the Bruins.
Not too long ago Bruins coach Claude Julien accused Smith of being behind the rest of the team because the winger missed the first week of training camp waiting for a new contract. After one game, Julien used a question about Bergeron's line to single out Smith as a guy that wasn't contributing the way he had to, almost blaming Smith for Bergeron's minus rating.
The Bruins are shorthanded without center David Krejci, plus defensemen Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller and Torey Krug all with injury. So Smith's recent resurgence as part of Bergeron's line should be making Julien ecstatic.
After the win against the Panthers, Julien was asked if Smith is now catching up after being behind.
"I'll save that for inside the room," Julien said defiantly. "I don't think we need to discuss every little thing here. That's my job to deal with those players."
When pressed about Smith's play against Florida, in particular his physical play, Julien showed a little kindness.
"That's good. That's a good sign. That's a good sign, he's trying to get himself going," Julien said. "And I don't think he's playing bad, I mean he's just one of those guys with that line. I think that whole line, the three of them together, are starting to come around. Two goals from that line tonight, so you can't complain."
With "love" like that from his coach, it's a wonder Smith can even skate because his legs must be so stiff from spending his nights in the dog house. One would think the kid deserves a break. Smith was a revelation last year in his first full NHL season. And he's obviously far from the only culprit during the Bruins' sluggish start to the season. Marchand had one goal in the first 11 games of this season before his four-goal outburst in the past three. Bergeron's goal against the Panthers was just his second of the season. And despite claims to the contrary, Bergeron is not perfect and has had some rough nights of his own doing without his wingers pulling him down.
Loui Eriksson has two goals. Carl Soderberg and Chris Kelly have cooled off after fast starts. None of them get anything but kudos from the coach. Even on defense we've seen some off nights from the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Dennis Seidenberg and Chara.
Is Julien too hard on Smith?
"I think everyone's used to that as a hockey player," Smith said. "So you get used to it, you have pretty thick skin and I think if you don't have it, you're not going to go too far."
So that's a yes, right Reilly?
"Well I'll leave it as an open-ended question."
Luckily for Smith and the Bruins, his thick skin does more than deflect Julien's criticisms. When Smith's at his best, he's protecting the puck and using his lizard-like frame and elusiveness to create scoring chances. He's providing back pressure to make sure Bergeron and Marchand's efforts don't go to waste and the Bruins can turn offense into defense. And yes, even if Smith doesn't believe, there's a little physicality to his game that gets him engaged and makes him a little tougher to play against. We saw that on Bergeron's goal, which was preceded by Smith battling two Panthers along the wall.
"I don't know about that. But if that's what you're seeing, then I'll take it," Smith said. "But no I think it's just a little bit more poise with the puck and waiting for things to open up."
Smith now has 2-4-6 totals in 14 games.
A little encouragement goes a long way sometimes. But even if he doesn't get it from behind the bench, Smith seems determined to make sure the next 68 games get him back on the path to success that he rode last season.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
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