Anders Bjork deserves more ice-time in overtime and shootouts
Not only should Cassidy try Bjork in the top-six with Krejci. He also must give Bjork more opportunities in overtime and shootouts.
Bjork didn’t see the ice much at all in overtime against the Devils. Then, although the Bruins went six shooters deep, Bjork didn’t get a shootout chance.
The lack of ice time in overtime definitely stands out. Cassidy needed to give Bjork more overtime shifts, especially with top-six players like Krejci out of the lineup.
Bjork is the fastest forward on the Bruins, so he can use his speed and skating to take advantage of all the open ice in the three-on-three overtime. We saw this earlier in the month in overtime against the Kings, when Bjork almost scored on a breakaway.
There’s no reason that Bjork shouldn’t be in Boston’s second or third overtime group. He offers upside that few forwards on this team match.
The shootout isn’t as big a deal as the overtime, but given Boston’s shootout failures this year, why not give Bjork a shot? We know he has above-average hands and a good shot, so let’s see if he can do what the other forwards cannot: score a goal in the shootout.
The Bruins next play on Thursday against the Blue Jackets. We don’t know if Krejci will be back in the lineup, but if he is, Bjork should start on his wing.