Jan 16, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner (51) skates against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Bruins defeated the Stars 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins know it’s going to be a long road to and through the playoffs. The Bruins want to be able to rest some of their players, and be ready for the occasional last moment contingency. To prepare for these possibility, the Bruins have recalled Ryan Spooner from Providence on an emergency basis today. Coach Claude Julien hinted to a few of the reasons why the young Providence blueliner got the call up.
“Just, Carl Soderberg is on the bubble there with his wife — she’s pregnant — so if he had to leave quickly, we want to make sure we don’t get caught without an extra body up front,” Julien said. “Krejci’s been dealing with a sore throat too, and if he’s not ready to go, then we can always use .”
Ryan Spooner turned out to be one of those emergency fill-ins that worked his way into the roster. (Kevan Miller has Spooner beat in the category though.) To date, Spooner has played twenty two games for the Boston Black and Gold this season. He saw most of his playing time from December to January. Most of you remember that was the period when the Bruins were struggling with injuries and illness, and at times the roster had a serious AHL feel to it. Spooner tallied eleven points (all assists) in that last run in Boston.
Spooner got the call late last night, and was in Boston by 9 AM on this morning. If the lose Soderberg, then Spooner can fill in a line he knows with some players that he has played with. If the Bruins are without Krejci’s services, then I’m sure Spooner will end up in the third or fourth line, and Soderberg, Chris Kelly, or even Gregory Campbell will receive a temporary promotion to the Bruins top line for their game against the hungry and desperate Detroit Red Wings.