Blue Jackets @ Bruins, 04/02/22

    

      With the return of Craig Smith, Nick Foligno, and Derek Forbort to the lineup, the Bruins returned to full strength on a Saturday evening home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team on the brink of playoff elimination. Despite a promising performance from Marc McLaughlin and a “you weren’t a liability” showing from Anton Blidh on Thursday’s 8-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, there was little doubt that both Smith and Foligno would slide back into their regular positions provided their health allowed it. Josh Brown, who left the game Thursday night following a crushing hit during the second period, was unavailable to play but was seen skating earlier that morning. Stay-at-home defenseman Derek Forbort played alongside Mike Reilly as Boston’s third defensive pairing. While far from perfect, Reilly’s ability to move the puck, eat up minutes, and his readiness to stick up for teammates (illustrated by his tussle with Miles Wood following Wood’s thunderous hit on Charlie McAvoy Thursday night) could keep his name in the line-up going forward. Though it should be expected to see Brown and Connor Clifton suit up again to evaluate their quality of play heading into the playoffs. Especially if some of Reilly’s defensive woes continue.

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         Nick Foligno’s return to the lineup Saturday night carried great emotional significance, as both teams celebrated his achievement of 1000 games played in the NHL. Foligno remains the longest tenured captain in Blue Jacket’s history and has spent more than half of his career playing for the team. In 599 games Foligno put up 142 goals and 192 assists, as well as 466 penalty minutes and 1,489 hits for the Jackets and will forever be revered in Columbus for his leadership on and off the ice. It’s no stretch to say that his name and number will be hanging above the rafters in Nationwide Arena one day.

          The Bruins signed 33 year old Foligno to a two-year contract after a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which ended with Toronto’s annual Round 1 departure from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Adding a former captain, especially one as highly regarded as Foligno, to Boston’s already impressively deep leadership core was an exciting sight for fans. And while his big personality and years of wisdom have been important for team culture and the development of younger Bruins, Foligno has struggled to contribute offensively throughout the 2021-2022 season. In 49 games played this season he has only 11 points, averaging just shy of 13 minutes a game. This marks the second lowest production of his career, beating out only his 9 points in 45 games during his rookie season with the Ottawa Senators in 2007-2008. To many, the winger’s lack of production was greatly disappointing, and to the team’s bigger picture, a cause for concern. One of the Bruins’s biggest problems of the last several seasons has been inconsistent offensive contributions from outside their top-line talent in Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and more recently, Taylor Hall. Foligno may not have been tasked with hitting the 30 point mark as a fourth line winger, but the frustration mounted for fans and certainly for himself as the season went on and the points stayed stagnant.

            Foligno’s first goal as a Bruin came on January 1st against the Buffalo Sabres, a backhand shot from the edge of the crease which helped spark an overtime comeback victory for Boston. His second goal came two months later against the Anaheim Ducks as a deflection in front of the crease from a Brandon Carlo wrist shot. The Bruins would go on to lose to Anaheim, letting in the game winner with only 21.6 seconds remaining in the game.
            Despite his struggles, Foligno remains an incredible locker room asset for Boston, and has been contributing to the success of this Bruins team in ways that cannot be quantified. As evidenced by the 2011 “Merlot Line” and the 2019 cult favorites Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly, and Curtis Lazar, Boston does best when anchored by a reliable and blue-collared fourth line. As the season comes to a close and the Playoff race begins, look for Foligno, Nosek, and Lazar to step up to smother their matchups through aggressive forechecking and finished checks.

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        Through the first twenty minutes of play, the Bruin’s middle six forwards sustained significant stretches of time in the offensive zone. Craig Smith’s relentless backchecking on the blue line and Trent Frederic’s ability to push through defensemen using his 6’2” frame led to several scoring chances for Boston, but Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stood tall. Leading into Saturday night Merzlikins held a 2-0-1 record against Boston this season, as well as a .946 save percentage and 1.63 goals against average. A small sample size, but enough evidence to demonstrate that another eight goal evening was far from likely. With 4:51 remaining in the first period Erik Hauala opened up the scoring, cleaning up after a hectic battle for the puck and notching yet another goal, his 17th point in his last 18th games. Haula’s goal was assisted by Taylor Hall and Charlie McAvoy for their 36th and 38th assists of the season respectively, and McAvoy’s 18th point in his last 19 games.

        With 27.3 seconds remaining in the first period a shot from the blueline was in and out of the glove of Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, and across the goal line off the stick of Gustav Nyquist to tie the game at 1-1. Letting up goals in the closing minutes of the period, especially the third period, has been an unfortunate trend for this Boston team this season. And more recently, Swayman’s puck control is beginning to trend in the wrong direction as well.

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        A breakdown in coverage by Mike Reilly outside the crease allowed Columbus to extend their lead. Justin Danfort rifled a shot past Swayman from Yegor Chinakhov’s rebound off the apron of the net only 42 seconds into the second period for Columbus’s second goal in seventy seconds of playtime. After several excellent scoring chances for the Bruins, including a Foligno-Lazar 2-on-1 and a hit post from a Charlie McAvoy shot from the high slot, the Bruins finally broke through with Brad Marchand’s 31st goal of the season. This equalizing goal highlighted the blossoming chemistry between Jake DeBrusk and his linemates in Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Two quick, calm, and accurate passes between the three culminated in the trio’s 14th goal in the last 11 games and a fresh slate for the Bruins heading into the final period of play.

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        To start the third period coach Bruce Cassidy shook up the defensive pairings, putting Mike Reilly together with Brandon Carlo. Both defensemen have faced their share of struggles this season, but perhaps Reilly’s offensive inclinations may balance with Carlo’s more traditional, stay-at-home approach.

        Frederic and Foligno’s physicality was on full display throughout the game, with each using their full weight and reach to keep the puck away from opponents while barreling through layers of defense to generate scoring chances. Frederic continues to play the best hockey of his career, a welcomed sight for all given his struggles earlier this season, and especially after the Bruins organization elected to protect Frederic from the expansion draft earlier last year.

        Merzlikins continued to face a determined Bruins offense, making several key stops to keep the game tied at 2-2. With 56 seconds remaining in a Boston powerplay, Bruce Cassidy used the team’s only time out to collect his team and let his top unit catch their collective breath. Immediately after play resumed, Erik Haula tipped a Brandon Carlo shot past Merzlikins for his second goal of the game, giving Boston the 3-2 lead. Empty net goals from Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle sealed Columbus’s fate as the Bruin’s would go on to win 5-2.

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        While some defensive screws still need tightening, and Jeremy Swayman’s puck handling leaves much to be desired, there are many things about this Bruins team that leave one eagerly awaiting their bid for Lord Stanley’s cup next month. With the top six forwards all playing at a point per game pace since late February, Jake DeBrusk and Erik Haula both clicking in their respective roles, and a relentlessly ruthless third line in Frederic-Coyle-Smith, the Boston Bruins continue to show that they are not an opponent to be taken lightly.