Bruins Notebook: Beatdown Backfire, Lines Get Reformed

BIG BAD BRUINS
It’s no secret at this point that the Bruins didn’t control their emotions in Tuesday night’s brawl at TD Garden. What worked for them last year all of a sudden failed them, and they didn’t quite know how to react. With four game misconducts and over 82 penalty minutes last night, Claude Julien’s team sat on the bench (or I guess more appropriately in the penalty box or in the locker room) forced to watch what could have been a game changer turn into an embarrassing showcase.

Though it has worked in the past for the Bruins, other teams are testing the waters to see if not getting involved with the fights and brawls will actually help keep the B’s from gaining momentum at critical times. According to Brad Marchand, it can be equally as frustrating when a guy chooses not to get involved, as it is being down in a game.

"Yeah, sometimes you go after a guy or a guy goes after someone and when someone comes after him he won't dance with the bell, you know that happens," Marchand said. "He has a choice, sometimes you chose not to and that's part of the game but you can't really let that affect how you play. It happens to us too so we know it's part of the game especially when they have a lead, they're not going to try to engage in anything that will give us momentum and that's all they were trying to do is stay away from that stuff."

INJURY REPORT
Before last night’s game it was reported that both David Krejci and Adam McQuaid both remained "day-to-day," and could come back at any time. There was even talk that McQuaid could have returned last night. However, McQuaid was out again last night and wasn’t seen on the ice this morning either. While no further reports have been given on his status, it’s possible that the injury or symptoms (neck pain, headaches) were worse than first imagined.

David Krejci was out on the ice for practice this morning and said he felt good, however, nothing has been confirmed on when he might return. Meanwhile, Steven Kampfer has been cleared for contact and could be a game time decision tomorrow.

POWER (LESS) PLAY
The good news from last night? The one goal that the Bruins scored happened to be on the power play. The not-so-good news? That’s only their second power play goal of the season and their first in 23 attempts. Claude Julien mentioned in the first couple of games during the year that he wasn’t going to field questions every day about the power play. He mentioned he knew it had to be fixed, but after last year’s rendition of the lack of production on the man-advantage, answering the nay-sayers at the beginning of the season wasn’t of interest to him.

The Bruins went 1-for-4 on the power play last night and for the most part, didn’t look horrible. However, the looming stat still remains and will be a big downer for the team until they get it moving again.

REA-LINE-MENT
This morning’s practice featured an entire new set of lines for the Bruins. Former first liner Nathan Horton was sent to the second line to play with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Meanwhile Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin were centered by Chris Kelly on the first line. David Krejci practiced on a line with Jordan Caron, Benoit Pouliot and Rich Peverley.

Players seemed to be on board with the changes, and said that it could add some spark to the team. Julien mentioned that he just wasn’t getting enough from his lines and he is going to find a solution.