Boston Bruins: How will they handle Ondrej Kase against the Ducks?
By jc
How the Boston Bruins match up with Kase
Kase is an exciting young player who has the talent to take over any game. The Boston Bruins defense will need to know where he is on the ice at all times.
Kase is a great skater, and he has a really quick first step. He’s always one of the fastest guys on the ice, so he can be quite the handful for opposing defenders.
Although he is incredibly fast, Kase often showcases great patience. He’s not reckless out there; instead, he waits for the play to come to him. Then, he finds an opening and pounces.
Look at this goal he scored in 2017 against Ottawa. Kase cuts in front of the net, outwaits the goalie, and then finishes upstairs.
What really makes Kase dangerous, however, is his creativity. He likes to take on defenders and try out new moves. Plus, he combines creativity with vision to set up his teammates. It’s no surprise he already has three assists this year.
Kase plays on Anaheim’s first line with Getzlaf and Max Comtois. As a result, he’ll see a lot of Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy.
Chara and McAvoy must be wear of Kase any time he’s on the ice. The Boston Bruins defenders must realize that Kase, and not Getzlaf, is Anaheim’s most important player.
Chara needs to use his length to take away Kase’s space and to clog up passing lanes. The last thing Chara wants to do is chase Kase around the ice all day. Instead, Chara must dictate play.
The best thing the Bruins can do is make Kase play defense. He’s not the most reliable player in his defensive zone. Boston’s first line can take Kase out of the game if it maintains possession in the attacking zone.
Next. Grading Boston through five games. dark
The Ducks only have 11 goals in their first five games. Kase factored in to four of these goals. The Bruins can shut down Anaheim’s attack if they limit Kase. If not, Kase could steal the game away from Boston.