Boston Bruins: Brett Connolly Scores Second In Five Games
Boston Bruins: Brett Connolly Scores Second In Five Games
When the Boston Bruins acquired Brett Connolly from the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, it was to be a right-handed, right winger who can score. So far in his time wearing black and gold, Connolly has played decently, but his scoring touch has yet to be displayed.
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Brett Connolly went 23 games without beating a goalie to score a goal in his most recent goal-drought. On January 15th in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, Connolly was able to score an empty net goal; one that many hoped would spark a potential string of goals in subsequent games. Unfortunately for Connolly and the Bruins, Connolly’s goal scoring luck didn’t turn around in his next three games as he was held pointless. He was eventually declared a healthy scratch when the Bruins took on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, but keeping him in the press box was clearly not part of Claude Julien‘s long-term plans.
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“He’s been a little bit snake-bitten right now as far as goal scoring, ” Julien said. “But there are guys in and out and we’re trying to find different things, so (Saturday) was his night to sit out. It doesn’t mean we’re totally unhappy with him. There are certain things we’d like to see from him, but his game isn’t a game that’s really struggling right now.”
It’s hard to argue with the Bruins’ head coach when he declared Connolly to not be struggling in general. In his time alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, the Bruins’ top line since the 2010-11 season, Connolly may be failing to put up points or score goals, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t working hard in an attempt to change that.
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“Besides the goal scoring, Connolly hasn’t been that bad,” Julien added. “Even Bergy and (Marchand) appreciate him on that line because he’s big, he’s strong and he can make plays.” Julien said.
“Cons is a good player even if he isn’t scoring,” Brad Marchand said. “My goal the other night against Vancouver, he did a great job in front of the net and if he wasn’t there then that puck wouldn’t have went in. So he brings a lot of other things to the game even if he’s not scoring.”
Similarly to Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron also came to the defense of Brett Connolly.
“He’s working hard. He’s making some things happen even though he’s not necessarily getting rewarded with points,” Bergeron said. “A lot of the goals lately were from his forecheck and what not, so I think he just has to keep working hard and keep playing the way he’s been playing. One is going to go in and then from there it’s going to be fine.”
With the support of his head coach and teammates, Brett Connolly finally threw the “monkey off his back” when he scored the game-winner for the Bruins at the 18:06 mark of the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. While it’s still only two goals in his last five games, Brett Connolly has an opportunity to turn that small success into something more.
“It’s been a frustrating little while…to see that one go in, in such a big game right before All-Star Break, it’s good to see.” When asked if it was a relief to score, Connolly replied “On a goalie? Yeah, it was good.”
Next: Boston Bruins Power Play Producing Again
The right wing spot alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand has been a revolving door for long enough and Brett Connolly needs to show that he deserves a permanent role in the shotgun position alongside the Bruins’ two best players.
Follow Brandon Share-Cohen on Twitter @BShareCohen to discuss all things Bruins and sports