BOSTON – David Backes is coming in like a wrecking ball.
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.
“We’ve been in seesaw series before, and we need a great response,” Backes said.
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.
“We need a little more leadership and intensity in our lineup. He brings that.”
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.”
DeBrusk is ‘ready to go,’ and Kadri is ready to be in his face
Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk, who scored six playoff goals last season, missed Friday’s practice but anticipates being in Saturday’s lineup.
DeBrusk slammed hard into the boards as a result of a Nazem Kadri 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.”
Kadri is somewhat focused on DeBrusk, however, and has engaged his opponent in some healthy chirps he’d prefer not to repeat off the ice.
“He’s pretty capable with his feet, and he’s got good skill, so with guys like that I think it’s important to be hard on,” Kadri said.
“Anytime they touch the puck, you want to be in their face and let them know it’s going to be a long night for them. He’s a good player, he’s quick, so we’ve gotta find ways to stop him.
Moore’s takedown of Chara signals new Leafs directive
No team in the Eastern Conference threw fewer hits this season than the Maple Leafs (1,421), so it was surprising to see the visitors out-check their more bruising hosts 33-31 in Game 1. (The Bruins launched 1,876 hits in 2018-19.)
Toronto’s coaching staff requested the first man on the puck to be hard on it and take a physical shot any time there’s an opportunity. There’s no better example of the effectiveness of the approach than five-foot-10 fourth-liner Trevor Moore toppling over big Zdeno Chara.
“Chara doesn’t get clipped very often, so we make a big deal of it,” Babcock said. “But they got six D and lots of forwards, so we like to be physical when we get the opportunity.”
Kadri believes it’s critical the Leafs keep finishing their checks.
“They’re a big, physical team, so we wanted to set the tone. We made that an emphasis in Game 1,” Kadri said.
“We’re not gonna be pushed around. I think we made that very clear. We’re gonna continue doing that. I think that’s an important aspect to bringing success.”
Marchand copped to being out-competed in Game 1 by the Leafs, who swarmed with a man-on-man defence all over the ice.
“They came to work last game, they competed hard and they were winning the battles,” Marchand said. “We just have to be a little better in that area.”
Maple Leafs look to mimic Blue Jackets
The road to the Atlantic Division crown might have to go through… Columbus?
With the Blue Jackets upsetting the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Lightning twice in Tampa, the Leafs have kept an eye on the other half of their bracket.
“It seems like a few road teams have pulled off a couple victories and are heading home with two in the bank,” Kadri said. “We’re looking to accomplish that. We understand they’re going to be desperate tonight, and we’ve gotta match that intensity. There’s gonna be a big difference from Game 1 to Game 2 in terms of that desperate aspect.”
Babcock has been touting the Bolts as hockey’s best squad all season but said he doesn’t get surprised at playoff time anymore.
“As the league has got tighter and tighter, the separation between top and bottom is almost nothing. We know every series is going to be ultra-competitive,” Babcock said.
“[The Blue Jackets] acquired a lot at the deadline, they had a good hockey club before, and obviously it’s shaping up to be a good series.”
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