The problems of closing out games is not just a Bruin-centric issue but rather a league-wide problem that has affected a lot of teams.
On a night when the B’s nearly lost a three-goal third period lead – but didn’t – the Toronto Maple Leafs blew a three-goal advantage and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout. Over the last couple weeks we’ve seen teams believed to be contenders like the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes blow three-goal leads and lose.
That’s not to say that what almost happened at the Garden – again, almost – is acceptable and the B’s should not keep trying to fix a problem that has dogged them off and on all season. But in the near-calamity of the B’s 6-5 win over a desperate Flyers team, there was a glimmer of hope and something that the B’s might be able to build off.
The last 1:30 of the game, with all the momentum on Philly’s side and their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, the B’s were able to kill it off with some pretty good team defense and relied on the five skaters more than Jeremy Swayman to close it out.
The B’s won three faceoffs down that stretch and were able to keep pucks off the goalie for the most part. Sealing it with an empty-netter would have been nice, but it’s a start.
“I did like the last 90 seconds,” said coach Jim Montgomery on Sunday. “I thought we didn’t give up anything. We got pucks out. We didn’t allow them to come at us with speed like we did on their fourth goal when we didn’t cover speed in the neutral zone. We’d rather the defensemen handle the puck and we get over the top of speed because those are the guys that are dangerous, the guys away form the puck when the defenseman has it at his own blue line.”
Montgomery also values the experience of simply going through these tight late-game situations now, whether they survive them or gain a hard lesson.
“Last year, nothing happened. Then it happened in the playoffs and we didn’t handle it well. This hopefully prepares you for those moments,” said Montgomery.
Another positive to come out of Saturday’s win is that it appears that they just may have another player they can rely upon in close-out and defensive situations. Andrew Peeke played 19:31, 2:54 of which was on the penalty kill, and he recorded game highs in blocks (4) and hits (5). He was also on the ice when the final horn sounded.
“He had a great shot block at the end of the first on the power play on a one-timer, so he’s got plenty of courage,” said Montgomery. “His gaps are really good. He’s right in people’s faces. He’s not afraid of confrontational areas, and that’s at the net front, in corners, at the blue line. And then I thought he’s really supporting the play pretty well for someone who’s new to our team. Besides the goal (he assisted on), he’s out there for the 4-on-4 situation (that eventually led to Charlie Coyle’s second goal of the game) and he showed a lot of poise.”
Obtained at the deadline from Columbus, the 26-year-old Peeke has two more years left on is contract with a cap hit of $2.75 million, so the B’s view him as something more than just another body to help down the stretch.
But while the club acquired the right-handed defenseman with an eye toward the future, he’s shown in just a two games that he could be a help for the here and now.
How he was relied upon on Saturday was a boost to Peeke’s mindset.
“It’s great being in a critical situations,” said Peeke. “Obviously it builds your confidence being trusted in a situation like that. It’s part of who I am as a player, helping out in those situations, so it’s awesome.”
While the Blue Jackets had played a defensive system similar to the Bruins’, Peeke said there are still things to learn.
“There’s something new every day,” said Peeke. “Practice, you can only do so much when it comes to game situations. Once you get those game reps in, there’s something that comes up, whether it’s each shift or every other shift…I feel like each shift I’ve been progressing better and understanding the system better.”
And preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in his five-year pro career can do a lot for a player’s outlook.
“What I’ve noticed is he’s got a smile on his face and he seems to be soaking in a lot,” said Montgomery. “So I think the opportunity to play in the playoffs, the opportunity to be on a team that’s one of the top teams in the league is something that’s really exciting for him.”…
The third pairing of Parker Wotherspoon and Peeke has played well, which begs a question. If rookie Mason Lohrei is squeezed out of playing time at the NHL level, could he be returned to Providence in order to get him playing time?
“I’ve got to be honest, I haven’t had that direct conversation with (GM Don Sweeney), but I think he’s here for the rest of the year. Because it gives us a lot of latitude with what we can throw out there on the D corps. But I haven’t had that conversation,” said Montgomery….
As for the goalie deployment, Montgomery wouldn’t commit to anything down the stretch but reiterated he’s comfortable with the rotation.
Meanwhile, competition for Game 1 starter is heating up all of a sudden. Swayman, who at least appeared have the inside track with is play all season, has allowed nine goals in his last two starts after back-to-back one-goal performances against Toronto.
Montgomery isn’t overly worried about the goalie he calls “Bulldog.”
“It’s not a concern, but we need (Swayman) to get back to the form that he was at,” Montgomery. “Some of that is our team defense and some of it is the schedule and the way it happens. But he’s probably six to seven starts away from starting the playoffs, him and Linus, hopefully to get sharp for it.”