Brandon Carlo latest Bruins defenseman to sit for road trip finale in Calgary
Orlov, a left-handed shooter equally comfortable on the left or right flank, stood on the right side of the No. 2 pairing with Hampus Lindholm. Grzelcyk played again at left flank with franchise defenders Charlie McAvoy on the right side. That went Derek Forbort (left) and Clifton (right) as pairing No. 3.
It was Orlov’s third different pairing in as many games. He debuted at right with Forbort in Vancouver. In Edmonton, where Orlov collected two assists, he lined up with McAvoy on the left. The Russian Blue liner has already proven to be versatile, solid and durable.
“We’re lucky,” Montgomery said. “We believe that Grizzy, Lindholm or Orlov can play offside as a left-hander. They are such good skaters.”
power consumption
Power play remained a bugbear in Edmonton, where the Bruins went 0-for-5 and looked particularly inept with a five-to-three advantage late in the third period. To make matters worse, the Oilers landed two good shots in the net while missing two men, with the Bruins maintaining a one-goal lead.
If his team weren’t in first place in the league standings, Montgomery might have voiced greater displeasure at how his team squandered that five-a-side. Instead, he cut a slice of the guilt pie ahead of Tuesday’s game.
“A big part of what we try to rate every game is game management,” mused Montgomery. “I told the team we didn’t get our game management – we were excellent five-a-side – but that was my fault. I should have had two defenders out there and just let a spread run.
Instead, Montgomery rolled out a five-forward attack for part of the two-man advantage.
He picked up the dagger and produced a butter knife.
“I was thinking about finishing the game,” he said, “and not thinking about finishing the game by making sure we’re in a good situation. I didn’t think, ‘Let’s make sure we have Lindholm and McAvoy out there to defend against them.’ They knew they were going to try and unfortunately I didn’t prepare the team well enough.”
scope
Orlov, who was the second option for the Capitals on the power play point, is behind John Carlsonwas plotted against the flames for Unit #2.
In Washington, Orlov usually had Alexander Ovechkin back there with him because Ovechkin usually plays the full two-minute lead. Montgomery changed the approach, rolling Orlov out with Lindholm and using Orlov more in an elbowed position – across the ice David Krejci – and Lindholm positioned high up as a shooter.
The power play, at its longest this season, went 1-for-3 on Tuesday night and 4-for-42 in the last 13 games. On Tuesday it was 8th in the league with 23.3 percent.
The big counterweight: The Bruins were 1st in the penalty shootout: 86.5 percent.
main role
In their first three games on this trip, the Bruins amassed an 84-14 lead to 12-26. Connor McDavids His opening goal Monday night, his 49th of the season, gave the Oilers their only advantage and lasted a full 13 seconds. Thomas Nasekback for only his second game since a prolonged stint on the injured list, tying it at 2:30 of the first… Paul Zacha, who brought home the winner in Edmonton and equalized 3-3 on Tuesday, has a career-high 41 points (15-26-41). It’s also a career with many assists. His career high for goals is 17… David Pastrnak, not scoring in Edmonton, fired 10 shots against the Oilers. Three made it into the net while seven were blocked… The Bruins will fly home on Wednesday and take on the Sabers at TD Garden on Thursday night, followed by a Causeway matinee against Rangers. Who is in the gate? “I haven’t thought that far,” Montgomery said.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at [email protected].