With it being the playoffs and all, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery was not openly divulging any of his potential lineup changes going into Tuesday’s Game 5.
But one thing he didn’t bother camouflaging was his use of the rookie Mason Lohrei on the second power-play unit instead of veteran Kevin Shattenkirk in the morning skate.
Other potential changes became more evident as the morning went on. Shattenkirk was later seen skating with Derek Forbort and Jakub Lauko welll after the rest of the team, signifying that they would be the healthy scratches unless something unforeseen happened. Linus Ullmark was also out on the ice late, meaning Jeremy Swayman would get his third start in a row. It also signified Matt Grzelcyk’s return to action after sitting out Games 3 and 4.
One player who didn't stay out late was forward Justin Brazeau, who has been out the lineup since suffering what's believed to be a wrist injury in Nashville on April 2, meaning there was one more decision to be made up front.
If there was one thing that you’d think the offensively gifted Lohrei would be ready for, it’s power-play duty.
“Just his ability to see plays quickly and make plays. We know what Shatty can do back there and Shatty’s really good back there, it’s just an opportunity to get (Lohrei) some reps,” said Montgomery.
Lohrei was on the unit with David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha, Danton Heinen and James van Riemsdyk. Montgomery had no concern that the rookie would be overly deferential to the established players with whom he’s playing.
“That’s a lot of what we like about his offensive confidence,” said Montgomery. “He’s got a lot of swagger offensively to take shots and not to defer, whether it’s Pasta or its (Brad Marchand) or its whoever on the elbow, wanting to take what’s there in front of you. We like that part of his mental makeup.”
Lohrei was looking forward to the opportunity.
“That’s a big part of my game, to jump in on the offense and the power play is something I’ve done in high school, junior and college, in the American league and I’ve been fortunate enough to be on the power play a little bit up here. It’s definitely a part of my game and I just want to help contribute,” said Lohrei.
Lohrei has not been hesitant to shoot the puck, either. Failure to get pucks to the net was at times what bogged down the power play in the regular season, though there’s been no such problem in this series (the B’s went into Game 5 6-for-13 on the PP).
“You can’t be afraid to let it go,” said Lohrei with a wide grin. “If I see a lane, and we’ve got two great net-front guys on our unit, you just get the puck to them and get pucks through. Maybe the next time, I can fake one and find 88...He’ll be ready.”….
With Lohrei available to play on the power play, it made some sense for Grzelcyk to go in for Shattenkirk, who has been on the ice for four goals against. Though he’s challenged by his size, especially in the playoffs, Grzelcyk can get to pucks and move them a little quicker than Shattenkirk. The key for Grzelcyk would be to move it before the forecheck closes in.
Montgomery spoke generally about making potential changes after winning two games in a row as the B’s had.
“You don’t want to change things just to change things,” said Montgomery. “But if you think your team can better, because of matchups, because of history with players and where you think they might be best utilized to help the Bruins, that’s when you look at potential changes.”…
While both Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon rose to the occasion in Toronto, they were getting their first chances to play a home playoff game.
Montgomery wanted his team to use the excitement of the home crowd for a fast start — “The TD Garden will be rocking. I want us rocking right from the start,” he said – but he wanted is team to play as under control as it did in Toronto.
“You just have to make sure you don’t get caught up in the excitement and we play simple and north,” said Montgomery after the morning skate. “We played two real simple, boring road games and it gave us the opportunity to get two good results. If we play simple and boring and play north, it gives us good opportunity to have good results. But it doesn’t guarantee it. Nothing’s guaranteed in the Stanley Cup playoffs.”…
Montgomery on Ullmark’s attitude while Swayman has run with the ball: “When we didn’t go back with him, I talked with him like I’d talk to any defenseman or forward that was coming out of the lineup. And he was 100 percent team-first.”…
Asked how much the Florida Panthers closing out their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday gave the B’s any extra motivation going into Game 5, Montgomery quickly nixed that talk.
“Zero, to be honest. We’re focused on Toronto,” said Montgomery.