The Bruins have added some grit to their lineup for Game 2 against the Maple Leafs. More details on the roster move from lukefoxjukebox.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy won’t tip his hand until warm-ups as to which one of his 12 forwards will be coming out for Game 2 Saturday, but the addition of Backes — a 67-game playoff veteran with a mean streak — instantly punches up this series’ nasty level.
It was a blow to the 34-year-old’s pride that he was stuffed in the press box Thursday munching “a couple of Mike and Ikes and snacks,” so he’ll be amped up to hop in the fray.Backes scored just seven goals this year, a full-season career-low, so his entry signals a different plan of attack for Cassidy as he tries to outwit Mike Babcock.
“I thought about Backes for Game 1, but we made a decision that we had to check fast against Toronto. They’re a fast team, and there’s two ways to slow them down. You either physically slow down them, or you skate with them and slow them down. I thought we’d do a better job checking with our legs and skating than we did,” Cassidy said.Brad Marchand, too, praised Backes’s leadership and relentless forechecking.
“He’s such a positive influence for the group,” Marchand said. “We definitely missed that in Game 1. In situations where he’d speak up and take control, we could’ve used him.”Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk, who scored six playoff goals last season, missed Friday’s practice but anticipates being in Saturday’s lineup.check he thought was “possibly a slew-foot” but ultimately chalked up to playoff hockey.
“That’s how it goes sometimes. I’m not too focused on that play or that individual,” said DeBrusk. “Ready to go.”
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