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Haggerty: Pastrnak, Spooner Have Given Bruins Badly-Needed Skill & Speed

BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins are playing much better as of late and the young guys are a big reason why they've increased their lead in the standings for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.

Comcast SportsNet New England's Joe Haggerty talked to 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Thursday morning about the contributions of Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak, what the Bruins will do when David Krejci and Brett Connolly return and much more.

But first, Tuukka Rask.

Boston has won three straight games and are now six points ahead of the Florida Panthers in the wild card standings. The Bruins didn't play particularly well Tuesday night against Ottawa, but were able to get the win because of netminder Tuukka Rask.

Haggerty believes Tuukka Rask will be critical going forward in order for the Bruins to continue their hot streak.

"Rask will have to be the number one factor if the Bruins are hoping to have some success in the playoffs," Haggerty said.

Besides Rask, Haggerty has been impressed lately with the play of youngsters Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak.

"They have risen to the forefront here and given this team some useful energy and ability to score on both the power play and five-on-five. Going back to last year with the Los Angeles Kings, young guys Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson were huge contributors to that team for the playoffs to help the Kings win the Stanley Cup," said Haggs. "If the Bruins can get something like that out of Pastrnak and Spooner, things become a little more rosy as far as the outlook goes.

"Pastrnak and Spooner have given the roster some infusion of skill and speed that the Bruins badly needed."

First-line center David Krejci has missed the last eight games recovering from a partially torn MCL tear in his left knee. Krecji has started to skate on his own in the past few days and is back on track to return soon.

But with Pastrnak and Spooner playing so well on the top line with Milan Lucic, what should the Bruins do when Krejci returns?

"The Bruins can go in a lot of different directions when Krejci returns. What I would be interested in is for them not touching the Spooner-Pastrnak-Lucic line. If they continue to produce and play the way they're playing, I would leave that line as it is when Krecji returns and I'd be tempted to move him down to the third line with Carl Soderberg and Loui Ericksson," Haggerty suggested.

What about Brett Connolly? The Bruins trade deadline-day acquisition? Where does he slot in when his broken hand is healed?

Listen below for the full interview:

 

Tune in to the Bruins all season long on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to every game!

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