Kalman: Bruins Defenseman Torey Krug Scores First Goal Of Season
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's the second month of the season, even former Bruins scoring-challenged defenseman Matt Bartkowski has two goals for the Vancouver Canucks and the Bruins have been struggling to put teams away.
But defenseman Torey Krug still said that he wasn't worried about going through the first 15 games of the season without a goal.
Well, Krug no longer has to worry (or not worry) because he scored his first goal of the season during the Bruins' 3-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday at TD Garden.
"I would be more frustrated if I wasn't getting the opportunities," said Krug, who has 11 points in 16 games. "I've been getting a lot of opportunities. And by no means is that the frustrating part. And sometimes it's just nice to see one go in the back of the net. And they'll come in bunches. We'll see what happens in the near future, but it definitely gives you a little more confidence."
The Bruins famously have been struggling to hang on for victories after getting leads in games this season. They lost 3-2 after leading 2-0 against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. They had scored first 10 times but won just five of those games before Saturday. They had lost three of four games on home ice after having a two-goal lead.
Although Krug's goal, the third in a three-goal second period, wasn't the game-winner it was the one that let the Bruins exhale a bit before a third period spent mostly in the defensive zone. Krug had three shot attempts in the first period without any production, but he made sure one of his four attempts in the second period found the back of the net.
After forward Brad Marchand skated end to end, he drove to the net against defenseman Mike Green. Marchand then made a backhand pass to the left hash mark for a Krug one-timer, which put the Bruins ahead 3-0 with 3:00 remaining in the period.
From there, the Bruins employed a bend-but-don't-break approach that paid off with just one goal allowed. Although he's just 24 years old and in his third season in the NHL, Krug has emerged as a leader for the Bruins and he was instrumental in making sure the Bruins didn't panic once Detroit mounted its comeback.
"I think it was kind of one of those things where we were playing not to lose," Krug said. "I know it's a cliché, you've got to play to win, but it really is a mindset. Today I thought we had a better focus and mindset towards that once we got the lead. It's nice to be able to come out and play that way. In the third period, I know it wasn't perfect, but we had the right mentality."
Krug, who scored 26 goals in 157 games the past two seasons, has been thriving in every area except the goals column this season. Despite an increase in his average ice time from 19:36 last season to 22:25 this season (an increase that has included more matchups with top-four forwards), he's compiled an even plus/minus on a .500 Bruins team. His lack of a goal was more of a statistical quirk rather than a signal of poor play. The Bruins have the best power play in the NHL and Krug has been at the forefront of that dominance with six assists during Boston's man-advantages.
With his shot, instincts and creativity, the offense is always going to come. And he'll continue to get the ice time from coach Claude Julien as long as Krug continues to help keep the puck out of the Bruins' net.
"Especially with a few more minutes being played, you know my No. 1 job is defense and that's been good so far. It can always improve, but it's nice to get the first one," Krug said.
If Krug's right, there will be more goals to come. Those goals will give the Bruins a better chance of overcoming their defensive shortcomings, and threaten Bartkowski's 2-1 lead in the scoring race against Krug.
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.
