Kalman: If Krejci Can Excel On The Wing, Bruins Might Have A Prayer
BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins' season started with an opening on right wing next to David Krejci and Milan Lucic.
In an odd twist, it appears the Bruins might've filled their right-wing need with Krejci. And the forward's return from injury and change of position might've come just in time to save the Bruins in the race for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Krejci returned from a 15-game absence on Thursday and played right wing with center Patrice Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand. Krejci's return didn't prevent the Bruins from losing for the sixth straight game (they're 0-3-3), but just having him back could be a spark down the stretch.
The point the Bruins earned despite losing a one-goal lead with 30 seconds remaining and falling 3-2 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks at TD Garden, tied them with the Ottawa Senators for the second Eastern Conference wild card with 85 points.
Krejci, who has played more than 500 NHL games as a center, hadn't played on the wing since a few games in February 2012 when the Bruins were searching for a replacement for the injured Nathan Horton.
"You know, I enjoyed it. There's things I still need to work on as a winger," Krejci said. "You know it's a little bit different. But I thought I had a decent game. I know I can do much more. But you know what, that's why we're going to have a good practice tomorrow, I'm going work on some things that I found out today that I need to work on and hopefully be better on Saturday."
Krejci skated 19:45 of ice time, third most among Bruins forwards. He had two assists, both on the power play replacing the injured Dougie Hamilton on the point on one of the units. He didn't land a shot on net and he had a Corsi For at even strength of zero, according to hockestats.ca. Krejci, Bergeron and Marchand didn't generate much during 5-on-5 play, but they spent most of the game holding down the Ducks' first line featuring stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Those guys didn't get on the score sheet until 30 seconds were left in regulation and the Ducks had the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker.
Krejci, who now has 7-21-28 totals in 39 games, did enough to prove to coach Claude Julien he was healthy.
"The guy's missed the first two months of the season and then five weeks just lately. His pace probably isn't where it should be but he was a good addition to our hockey club tonight," Julien said.
When healthy, Krejci centered Milan Lucic and a rotation of right wingers throughout the season because the Bruins didn't replace Jarome Iginla last summer. Then Krejci's injury opened an opportunity for center Ryan Spooner to come up from the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League and prove he was NHL worthy. Spooner scored his sixth goal of the season in the loss to the Ducks.
Despite Krejci's value to them, the Bruins actually won eight of the first 10 games after Krejci suffered a partial tear in his knee Feb. 20. With Bergeron and Carl Soderberg written in stone in the lineup at center, Krejci might've worried about where he would fit in. Obviously the Bruins had to bring him back, but he could've forced a worthy teammate to the press box or ruined the little bit of chemistry that was forming with the new lines.
Krejci started practicing with Bergeron and Marchand almost right off the hop once he rejoined the team. And after feeling all right in practice and warmups, he gave it a go. Krejci said he never worried about what role there would be for him when he got back, he just wanted to help the team, especially once things started to go south over the past couple weeks. The Bruins were 8-4-3 during Krejci's most recent absence.
"Not really, I was just trying to get better. I was working hard every day at the gym and at home, Krejci said. "And when the time was right to come back, then it's up to the coach and I just want to help the team to win. We have only now eight games left and you know wherever he puts me then I'm going to try to do my best and hopefully it will work."
Krejci started wearing a letter as an alternate captain last season after Andrew Ference's departure. Leadership manifests in different ways. Showing he's willing to shift from a position that he's not only played his whole life but has excelled at for numerous years at the sport's highest level shows the same type of dedication that blocking a shot or playing hurt shows.
If Krejci can find a way to excel as a winger, he might be able to fly the Bruins into the postseason.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
