NostraDavis’ Boston Bruins Player to Watch vs Vegas: Anders Bjork
By Davis Legree
Welcome to a segment called “Player to Watch with NostraDavis.” Every game I take a look at one Boston Bruins player fans should keep an eye on. After potting his first career goal last night, Anders Bjork looks ready to breakout against the Golden Knights.
The floodgates are open. Anders Bjork buried his first career goal on the power play, last night against the Yotes. Although his goal was rather meaningless to the outcome of the game, it is critical for rookies to get the first goal under their belt sooner rather than later. That was evident earlier in the year with other Boston Bruins rookies, Jake DeBrusk and Charlie McAvoy, getting their first ones early.
The Situation
More from Causeway Crowd
- Harrison, Toporowski shine in Prospects Challenge
- Obscure former Boston Bruins: Steven Kampfer
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins release full “Historic 100” list ahead of season
- McAvoy, Lucic named to “Historic 100” list over the weekend
The Notre Dame standout has been thrust into a top six role with the B’s this season, and hasn’t looked out of place. He’s currently slotted on right win, with David Krejci and the aforementioned DeBrusk rounding out his line. Bjork was a fifth round pick in 2014, but gradually increased production at the college level, and was ready to make the leap to the show.
Many pegged the Wisconsinite as a Calder hopeful due to the key role he’ll likely play in Boston. The main reason to watch Bjork tonight, is to see if he looks more comfortable on the ice. As the old adage says, the first is always the hardest. Now the Bjork has that out of the way he could work on increasing his offensive production.
Looking Forward
Also, tonight’s game gives Bjork a perfect chance to display his offensive flare. The B’s opponent tonight, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, are not as talented as their record would display. Despite a hot, 3-1-0 start, Vegas is filled with unproven scorers, and unreliable denfensemen. Furthermore, Marc-Andre Fleury was put on the IR, meaning former Bruin, Malcolm Subban is likely to get the start. Bruins fans are all to familiar with the flaws and inconsistencies in Subban’s net minding.
This is the perfect opportunity for Bjork and the Bruins to get the offensive juices flowing. With a D corps headlined by Nate Schmidt and Luca Sbisa, and the untested Subban in net, the Bruins should get their fair share of chances.
Next: Bruins take down Coyotes in the desert
Anders Bjork hasn’t really stood out in any of the Bruins games yet. But that one power play goal, that didn’t really mean anything to that particular game, could in fact mean a lot to Bjork’s personal game. Look for a more comfortable, and therefore effective Anders Bjork tonight in Vegas. It is for all of these reasons that Anders Bjork is tonight’s ‘Player to Watch’.