During their recent nine-game stretch over 16 days, the Boston Bruins faced several challenges, including an unusual three-game losing streak.After three much-needed days off from games, Boston was able to put the busy part of the schedule and the losing streak behind them. Going into their meeting with the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, the Bruins have now won three straight games.
Brad Marchand had not scored a goal in eight games going into last weekend, but he is well past that now.
In his last two games, the Bruins captain has scored four goals. In Saturday’s 4-3 overtime victory over Toronto, he scored the game-winning goal. On Sunday, in the 3-1 victory over Columbus, he recorded a natural hat trick in the third period.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bostons said, “For (Marchand) to take it on his back and just not take no for an answer after a back-to-back, three-in-four, is what leaders do.” “He will appear when it is appropriate. That is what he has done his entire career.”
Jim Montgomery, the coach of Boston, called the Bruins’ performance on Saturday one of their best all-around in recent weeks. Sunday’s matchup with a team that has been playing well lately required tenacity.
Whether he was netting goals or not, Marchand and his fellow leaders on the team have kept Boston going throughout.
Regarding what has enabled the Bruins to get back on track, Montgomery said, “I think our leadership (has been key) and being able to get back to practice, to create the habits and pace that we want to play with.” “But mostly, I think it’s the leadership.”
Marchand missed practice on Wednesday in order to attend his grandmother’s funeral, which took place last Friday. However, he is anticipated to return.
Despite having the third-best goal differential in the NHL as of Wednesday (plus-21), Montgomery is aware that his team still has room to improve.
“We’re performing better. We haven’t yet arrived at our destination,” Montgomery remarked. “The league only continues to get harder and better every 20 games.”
The 5-3 loss to Detroit on Tuesday marked the Sabres’ fifth loss in six games and their fourth in a row.
Buffalo coach Don Granato is upbeat despite his team closing the gap on the Atlantic Division cellar to just two points.
“I have confidence that we can resolve this, and I have confidence in saying that this is what teams deal with, and you’ve got to learn to deal with it better to get out of it faster and become more experienced because of it,” Granato stated. “I know we’re going to get to the other side of this and as painful as it is, I think we’re going to be better because of it.”
There’s definitely cause for optimism with Tage Thompson, the star forward for the Sabres, back. Thompson’s upper-body injury, which he received while blocking a shot in a Nov.
14, the Bruins’ defeat.
On Tuesday, Thompson played 18:41 and contributed an assist. Jordan Greenway and Alex Tuch, two other forwards, were put on injured reserve in the interim.
“I think, obviously, watching the consistency of winning and losing battles is too big right now,” Thompson stated. “Coming out on the other side as a group is a crucial experience. For us, it’s been a worthwhile challenge. And how we react to it is really up to us.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sabres (illness) is expected to miss his second straight game. Devon Levi, a former Northeastern University player in Boston, may start in goal.
Rasmus Dahlin, a defenseman for Buffalo, will go to Boston due to a lower-body injury.
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