Sep 23, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) fights with Washington Capitals left wing
Aaron Volpatti(24) during the first period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins have recalled defenseman Kevan Miller from their AHL affiliate Providence Bruins on an emergency basis. He will be eligible to play in tomorrow night’s game against the Saint Louis Blues. Miller was the last person cut from the Bruins 22-man opening night roster. Miller had made a strong case to make the final cut, but in the minds of the Bruins organization, Matt Bartkowski was considered the better choice.
“I like to make it tough for the other guys to play against me,” Miller said of his playing style during training camp in September. “[Adam McQuaid] and I have some similar style. I like to be physical, play strong, make quick passes and make smart decisions and just try and be tough to play against.”
The Boston Bruins defensemen have had a rough couple of weeks. Part of the plan for the Bruins this season was to give their captain Zdeno Chara a little less playing time this season. Unfortunatly for Boston, that plan hasn’t gone through as they hoped. Adam McQuaid suffered a lower body injury against the Maple Leafs and is still questionable. Dennis Seidenberg was injured just one shift and one minute into Tuesday’s game against the New York Rangers. He will not be able to play tomorrow night.
The Bruins have had to play several games this season with only five defensemen. During the season, the Bruins have had to lean very hard on the trio of young Bruins blueliners’. Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug, and Matt Bartkowski have done a good job to date, and have played strong games for the Black and Gold. There have been errors, mostly rookie ones that have put the Bruins in rough situations. Those situations have ended up costing Boston a few points down the road, but the new kids in the garden have done a great job learning from those errors and not repeating them.