Boston Bruins: Bruce Cassidy’s “load management” worked out to perfection

The Boston Bruins lead the Atlantic Division. It´s not usual, but the Bruins are just not used to win the Divisional crown in the past few seasons. That all happens despite injuries. Bruce Cassidy and his “load management” plan has worked out to perfection so far.

Especially early on in the season, for years now, it has been a carnival of the injuries for the Boston Bruins. Bruce Cassidy, the Bruins’ Head coach, has always found tools and tricks to fool mother nature.

So far, during the 2019-20 season, up to 13 players on the current roster have missed at least a game with an injury. In other words, only nine players have not missed a game. And it’s November 20th, and the Bruins lead the Atlantic Division.

But it’s nothing unusual for Bruce Cassidy. Last year, the Bruins were baffled with the injuries. Missing Charlie McAvoy, the Bruins lost Brandon Carlo, Patrice Bergeron, and Zdeno Chara, in three games last November to longer-term injuries. The Bruins still finished as the third-best team in the NHL after the regular season.

At this date in 2017, the Bruins had 20 points, eight behind Toronto, 12 behind Tampa Bay. In 2018, the Bruins had 25 points, five points behind the Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2019, the Bruins lead the Atlantic Division with 31 points, nine ahead of Toronto, and 11 ahead of the Lightning.

Bruce Cassidy decided to use a load management argument when resting banged-up forward Patrice Bergeron on Saturday. As Bergeron was seemingly good to go on Tuesday in New Jersey, Cassidy chose not to risk and rested Bergeron again. He could have afforded it, the Bruins won 5-1 on the road.

As aforementioned, the list of injuries don’t contain just Chris Wagner missing one game, or David Backes being out. That list features prominent names being out for a relatively extended time. Nevertheless, Cassidy has been able to adjust to that. It’s hard to lead your team to a top spot in the Atlantic Division when you cannot fully focus on the team’s performances.

Cassidy has to always consider who else should he bring from Providence. Despite all that, here the Bruins are, atop of the Atlantic Division. Last time the Bruins led the Atlantic Division on November 20th, was in 2013. We all know how that season ended up.