Just a few weeks ago, Kevin Shattenkirk was watching more hockey than playing it. With the addition of right-handed defenseman Andrew Peeke at the trade deadline, the experienced defenseman was not included in eight of 12 games as the Bruins’ coaching staff tried to figure out the best line-up.
But now, thanks mostly to Shattenkirk’s skill on the power play, he will be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at the Garden as the B’s start another quest for a Stanley Cup.
No player wants to sit, but he handled it as well as he could.
“I’ve been impressed with him throughout the year,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “It’s not easy to bench veteran players that have had outstanding careers. I think his communication and our communication to him, we’ve never left him in the dark and he’s always been a true professional. He’s been excellent not only in keeping himself prepared but also getting other players ready who have been sitting out with him. He’s been tremendous in that regard. And every time he’s come back in the lineup, he’s played better.”
After being in the lineup in Nashville on April 2 when the B’s shut out the red hot Predators, he was left out for the next three games, two against Carolina and one against Florida, but he was in the lineup for the final three games of the season.
“Monty talked to me and told me that it was going to be a matchup decision with Carolina and I kind of knew that I didn’t play against Florida before that, so I prepared myself for it and just worked hard and stayed ready,” said the 35-year-old Shattenkirk. “I thought that I would get at least some of those games towards the end, but I didn’t really know where I would fit in going into Game 1. But I just tried to stay prepared and be ready for the power play and whatever else. And I’m just happy with how things turned out and I’m excited to get into Game 1.”
Shattenkirk acknowledged the coaching staff for helping him recharge whenever he’s been on the outside looking in.
“I’ve had great conversations with the coaches, affirming what I’m doing well but also emphasizing what I need to improve,” said Shattenkirk. “Everyone knows my game. I’m more at ease on the offensive side of things but the work they’ve done with me this year defensively, the small details that they emphasize around here, they’re always great reminders. It keeps me sharp and allows me to stay aggressive on pucks and in puck battles. That’s what they want to see from me. They want to see me winning puck battles and they kind of allow me to do the other things that I do well and take it from there. Sometimes it can be good to get that reset and have that fresh mindset going into games.”
The right-handed Shattenkirk has been paired with Peeke and he’s had to get used to playing the left side.
“The more repetitions the better, but without a doubt, I’m getting used to that, getting used to playing with Andrew, all those things. It takes time. But more than anything, I’ve just been focused on playing simple over there and not getting too fancy or doing anything too risky with the puck,” said Shattenkirk.
He came back to the lineup in the 6-4 victory against Pittsburgh and scored a goal. However, it's the incident while he was on the bench that likely secured his place in Saturday's lineup. Instead of capitalizing on a third period power play, the B's allowed a shorthanded goal which made the win more challenging than necessary.
Following that game, Montgomery adjusted his power play units by removing Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand from the top unit and placing Shattenkirk at the top and Danton Heinen on the right elbow. They didn't receive a single PP opportunity in the next game in Washington, but in the season finale, Shattenkirk assisted on the first PP chance they got in the third period.
It's a limited set of results, but Montgomery is pleased with the early outcomes.
"I always believe in keeping your top unit together, but there was a prolonged period where they were mentally stagnant," Montgomery remarked. "It didn't matter who had the puck, there was no movement and no purpose to our actions. We were drifting away from the net instead of converging towards it. Both units today were converging towards the net, so I'm satisfied with the pace of the power play."
Off the Matt
There was a brief moment of concern at Bruins practice when Matt Grzelcyk went down after being hit on the knee. After a short time on the ice, he managed to skate it off and continue practicing.
"If he were a Black Bear, he would have gotten up right away. But he's a Terrier, so he stayed on the ice for a while," joked Montgomery, the former UMaine star.
Loose pucks
As anticipated, John Beecher and Mason Lohrei were brought up from Providence. While it seems Lohrei will be benched, Beecher was placed on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Pat Maroon….
A surprising absence from Leafs practice was that of 40-goal scorer William Nylander, who played all 82 games this year. There was little information provided by Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe on Nylander and injured winger Bobby McMann other than to say "both are possibilities" for Game 1 … No surprise, but neither Montgomery nor Keefe announced their starting goalie for Game 1.
"Welcome to the playoffs," remarked Toronto forward Max Domi.
