Bruins eye pickup game
Fluto Shinzawa
Then Saturday night, against a Florida team that started an overhaul last week by trading Dominic Moore to Montreal, the Bruins strolled through two listless periods. To come up with the win, they turned to graybeard Recchi to score the tying goal in the third and beat Tomas Vokoun in the shootout.
If they want to become major players in the playoff chase, the Bruins could use a puck-rushing defenseman and a wing with some finishing touch to jack up their league-worst offense (2.35 goals per game). Once the roster freeze is lifted Feb. 28, Chiarelli, with current prices far too high for his liking, will have only three days before the March 3 trade deadline to address the club’s shortcomings.
It may be, however, that like 2007-08, Chiarelli stands pat at the deadline. Aside from Washington, no team looks like a slam dunk to advance past the first round. Second-place New Jersey is 2-3-1 since acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk from Atlanta. The fourth-place Sabres halted a six-game winless streak with a 3-1 win over San Jose Saturday night.
But the Bruins can’t afford to let up after the break. They resume play with home games against Montreal and Toronto. But they then depart for a seven-game road trip, their longest of the season.
“We know,’’ Bergeron said of the obstacles that loom ahead. “We’ve seen the schedule. We know we’re going to have to play well on the road and build some momentum. Right now, we’re more aware of what’s going on. We’re trying to make a difference every time we step on the ice. We feel the urgency of climbing back in the standings.’’
The Bruins assigned defenseman Adam McQuaid to Providence yesterday. Blue liner Mark Stuart, who broke his pinkie Jan. 30, should be available for the first post-break game March 2.
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2010/02/15/bruins_eye_pickup_game/?page=2