WILMINGTON, Mass. – Claude Julien raised a few eyebrows and certainly caught many pundits by surprise when he started Bruins training camp by piecing together a line consisting of speedy center Ryan Spooner in between big-bodied wingers Jimmy Hayes and Brett Connolly.
The line has remained together for all of the B’s training camp practice sessions, and has appeared in two preseason games. The verdict on those two exhibition games: the trio struggled during 5-on-5 play in their preseason debut against the Devils, and got caught running around way too much in the defensive zone where they couldn’t clear the puck out.
Still, Spooner notched a primary assist on one of Boston’s power play goals. And Hayes also played a major role in the second PP goal, with an incredibly effective goalie screen using his massive 6-foot-6 frame.
All three forwards were much better in Thursday night’s shootout win over the Rangers, and Spooner said he’s beginning to find a comfort zone with two brand-spanking new wingers riding on either side of him.
“For us as a line we just need to get used to what each of us wants to do. It was our second game in five months, so things aren’t really going to click at the start,” said Spooner. “Right now we’ve done fine, but I think there are things we can improve on, for sure.
“The fore-checking part and the timing piece are just part of getting back into it. I think we can better. It was similar to who I played with last year: both [Milan] Lucic and [Jimmy] Hayes are big bodies and get to the net. [David] Pastrnak and [Brett] Connolly both skate really well. So I think for me it’s just going to be getting them the puck, and they can score. It’s just getting pucks to the net, and we’ve got some size and skill to put the puck in the net.”
Spooner, of course, was one of the hottest offensive centers in the NHL while centering Lucic and Pastrnak for the last two months of last season, posting eight goals and 18 points in 28 games for Boston.
Boston Bruins
Spooner followed up the PP assist in his first game with the game-tying goal in the final minute of the third period vs. the Rangers after the Bruins had pulled the goalie for the extra skater.
Spooner showed exceptional confidence and coolness with the puck on his stick at crunch time, and simply waited out Rangers goalie Jeff Malcolm before picking an opening to shoot for on the goal.
Earlier in the period both Connolly and Hayes showed tenacious willingness to battle in front of the net to keep a play alive after Austin Czarnik hit a post, and it eventually resulted in a Brandon Carlo score set up by the melee in front of the net.
Connolly and Hayes didn’t end up with the goal despite their laudable efforts winning battles in front of the net, but received encouragement by being part of the all-around offense created in the third period comeback.
“A lot of guys are trying to figure each other out. I thought we were better [against the Rangers], but obviously we got a ways to go. We had some good chances. We’re definitely not satisfied. We’re getting better and we’re getting to know each other a little better,” said Connolly. “[We’ve] just got to keep getting better every day. It’s a process and we weren’t expecting to come in here and shoot the lights out right away. It’s got to take a little bit of time.”
Connolly was much improved individually as well in the win over the Blueshirts, and finished with five shot attempts along with an assist, a plus-1 rating and some very active moments right around the front of the net. The 23-year-old wasn’t sure if he’d be staying with Spooner and Hayes beyond last night, but it certainly sounds like Claude Julien wants to take a long look at a combination of forwards that he feels could work together.
“We’ll see. I think if anything, I thought [the Spooner line] looked better than yesterday, you know. I’ve said that they seem to be finding themselves a little bit better, and [seem] to be adjusting to each other’s styles a little bit better,” said Julien. “I thought Brett [Connolly] played much better than in that first game, you know and he was a good, strong contributor [against the Rangers]. So if we can continue to have those guys improve like that on a game-to-game basis in preseason, we might have a decent line there.”
The possibilities are intriguing for three young forwards in Hayes, Spooner and Connolly, all of whom have yet to live up to their ultimate potential, and could team together to make sure all three achieve higher levels of NHL success than they could have ever dreamed.