Boston Bruins: Making a tough decision about scratching David Backes
By Filip Canda
The Boston Bruins are slowly gearing up for a pivotal Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final with their series with the St. Louis Blues tied at two apiece. The Bruins need the spark from their offense; former Blues captain, David Backes included.
The Boston Bruins find themselves on the crossroad. No even-strength points from their top six forwards. The top line, so-called ‘Perfection Line’, has connected various times, but only on the power play or with Brad Marchand hitting the empty cage in Game 1. Otherwise, nothing. Is there a tough decision with juggling the offense incoming? Just look at David Backes’ ice-time.
Despite their struggles at even strength, it would not be a good idea to split the top Boston Bruins line. It hasn’t worked before, it probably won’t work in the following at least two games to decide the Stanley Cup fate.
Making changes with the second line would make more sense. The only player with some points from that line in the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final is Jake DeBrusk. DeBrusk has collected two power-play assists. Otherwise, that line led by David Krejci is a complete no-show so far in the Cup Final.
The right-winger on that line is David Backes. It would probably hurt the feelings of some fans to sit David Backes, because of what he has brought to the lineup. We highlighted it in our piece after the series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round. Inserting David Backes provided a spark for the Boston Bruins.
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But from the long-term outlook, offensively, the second line with David Backes is just not working. The 35-year-old veteran is a good body presence and everything, but he has no connection on the second Bruins line with DeBrusk or Krejci. And Bruce Cassidy, the Boston Bruins head coach apparently sees that as well.
In Game 4, David Backes had his ice time top out at 9:09. That just narrowly topped the ice time of Zdeno Chara, who went down injured at the beginning of the second frame. David Krejci, supposedly, his centreman, had the ice time at 16:03.
Yes, having David Backes in the lineup makes so much sense, but why keep him playing on the second line, when it´s firstly not working and secondly when the head coach doesn’t use him at all. On the other note, Bruce Cassidy doesn’t want to split his well-oiled fourth line, which is pretty much logical.
What if the Boston Bruins scratched David Backes and tried to play speedy winger Karson Kuhlman instead in Game 5?
Kuhlman played in five games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round and then in Game 3 against Columbus. That was his last game with the Bruins; he has gathered two assists playing on the second line, both at even strength.
He doesn’t bring the physicality and toughness as David Backes does to face the steady St. Louis Blues attacks and hits. But on the other note, the second line is just not working and something needs to happen soon.
The Boston Bruins get the power-play magic from their ‘Perfection Line’, other times they get support from their fourth line. Almost every game they get the offense from the third line.
Where are the second line and their contribution? The tough decision does not necessarily have to be scratching Backes and playing Kuhlman instead. Maybe Jake DeBrusk would be the odd man. But in search of production and chemistry, you would think David Krejci, who is not as poor as his stats might indicate, has the better connection with DeBrusk rather than with the veteran Backes.
It has come all down to this. Three games, win two, lose just one more. It is all about that in order to win the Stanley Cup. At any point of the season, coaches don’t like to experiment with their offense just to win one or two games, they want to find some consistency.
Next. Krejci line is currently the fourth line. dark
But this time around, it is all about that. Find a way to win two games. Including making some tough decisions.