Boston Bruins Relying On “Next Men Up”
The Boston Bruins have had a strong belief in the ‘Next Man Up’ philosophy. It has allowed the team to find diamonds in the rough over the years. Players like Brad Marchand and Torey Krug surely benefited from that strategy. Now, the Black and Gold are calling on that strategy again as they try to replace holes in their roster.
The B’s have had that belief tested by injuries throughout the 2018-19 season. The B’s have tapped into their AHL Providence Bruins for support and have done an outstanding job so far. Now they’ll need their next men up to help them finish out their current road trip.
The Boston Bruins find themselves in a pickle. The B’s have lost their last two games and are down half a dozen players as they prepare to take on the Winnipeg Jets. It’s an ugly list of injuries for the Black and Gold.
The Bruins will be missing three of their top six forwards. David Pastrnak is still out due to his left thumb injury. Jake DeBrusk will be out of action because of his left foot. Marcus Johansson is out for the forseeable future after sustaining a bruised lung.
On the defensive side of things, the Black and Gold will be missing Kevan Miller and Torey Krug, who are both suffering from upper body injuries. The Bruins blueline will also be missing Matt Grzelcyk as well, as he is recovering from that hit he took to his right arm in the game against the Penguins last Sunday.
The Bruins will have to make do until next week where the team should be able to get back DeBrusk and/or Grzelcyk back on the roster.
So, who are the next men up for the B’s? Paul Carey and Connor Clifton have been tasked to fill in where they can as the Bruins take on the Central Division-leading Jets. Paul Carey is another “local, gritty winger” (something the Bruins organization seems to love but has been a mixed bag over the last few seasons), he’s a Massachusetts native and a former Boston College player.
“Very excited. It’s something that I’ve waited for a while. It’s always nice having some local guys that get it,” said Carey. He was called up by the B’s on Wednesday. “It’s always tough coming to a new team, a new locker room. When you know a few guys (B’s forward Charlie Coyle is from Weymouth and Chris Wagner is from Walpole), it certainly makes it easier to adjust and get to know everyone else.”
Carey will be on the second line, with David Krejci and Charlie Coyle.
Connor Clifton is back in Boston to help out on the blueline. Clifton had a nine-game stint with the B’s earlier in the season and is looking to build on that success moving forward. “I think what I took if I could play at this level. Coming in a second time, I just want to relax and grow my game,” said Clifton of his latest opportunity.
Connor Clifton isn’t afraid of dropping the gloves. He’ll make a decent substitute for Kevan Miller in the short term. Clifton will be part of the third defensive pair.
The Boston Bruins are in a relatively safe spot at the moment. They’re second in the Atlantic Division with a four-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the B’s have a little room to maneuver, they’re really hoping their next men up can keep the B’s in their current position during the last few weeks of the regular season.