Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Bruins banking on Justin Brazeau’s netfront work giving top-six a boost
"I'm never trying to be somebody I'm not."
Justin Brazeau doesn’t boast the same 0-to-60 acceleration as his teammate, Johnny Beecher.
He doesn’t wield the blistering one-timer stashed in David Pastrnak’s arsenal, nor does he have the hands to dangle past skaters to the same degree as his captain, Brad Marchand.
But the 26-year-old winger isn’t fretting over any supposed limitations.
Even with just 26 games of NHL reps under his belt, Brazeau knows what type of player he is.
Or perhaps more importantly, he knows what he needs to do to thrive at hockey’s highest level.
Advertisement:
And for the 6-foot-5 forward, it’s all about planting himself around the netfront.
“Just knowing who you are, what you do [well], what you do well on the ice — I’m never trying to be somebody I’m not,” Brazeau said Monday of his on-ice approach. “I mean, I always just go out there knowing exactly what I need to do to help the team. So I just have to focus on that.”
Brazeau’s offensive skillset may not be flashy, but the Ontario product has the toolkit in place to dole out plenty of damage in Grade-A ice. While his 220-pound frame already makes him a nuisance around the crease, his stickhandling in tight areas and long reach make him a human Dyson for skittering pucks around high-danger areas.
Advertisement:
On a Bruins team currently ranked 29th in 5-on-5 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.86), Brazeau has been a welcome sight around the netfront.
The big-bodied forward is tied for second on the team in individual high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 play with six, with four of those coming in his last two games against the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.
It’s the type of response Jim Montgomery has been banking on after scratching Brazeau (one point in five games) on Oct. 22 against the Predators.
“I think his stick has been really good offensively, but more so defensively — causing turnovers in the D-zone, causing turnovers on the forecheck,” Montgomery said Monday. “And then getting to the areas that he has success in. … He knows what he is, and he’s played to what he is.”
After watching that 4-0 loss to Nashville from high above the ice, Brazeau has responded with tallies in both games against the Stars and Maple Leafs on Thursday and Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, both goals were a direct result of Brazeau either slinging the puck over from the goal line or waiting near the low slot for an inevitable rebound opportunity.
“Around the netfront, he’s so big and skilled down low in the corners,” Marchand said of Brazeau Saturday. When he gets around there, he’s dangerous and he’s gonna produce. So it’s great in that sense where he has that confidence now. … When you get a couple, that’s what happens, your confidence grows and builds, and so it’s great to see from him. I’m sure he’s only going to get better.”
Advertisement:
Given Boston’s dearth of quality scoring chances (and pucks outright sailing into twine) at 5-on-5 action, Montgomery is hoping that a top-six promotion for Brazeau will give the Bruins’ forward corps a lift.
Brazeau skated with Boston’s second line alongside Marchand and Charlie Coyle during Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena — with his netfront skills looking to elevate a duo who have generated zero goals and just one point so far this season at 5-on-5 play.
Fittingly, Brazeau isn’t worried about augmenting his approach if he’s skating with Coyle and Marchand for Tuesday’s home game against the Flyers. Odds are, his linemates will know where to find him in the offensive zone.
“I don’t think anything should change,” Brazeau said of changing his game in a top-six spot. “I just got to kind of do what I do best, make some room out there for those guys, try to be hard on the forecheck to help them get pucks back, be at that net, so when they’re making their plays and stuff like that, I’m there for the second opportunity. So I don’t think I have to change anything.”
Bruins make rounds during annual Halloween visit
As is tradition, the Bruins took part in their annual Halloween hospital visits at Mass General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital on Monday afternoon.
After opting for a topical cinematic theme last fall by dressing as various “Barbie” and “Ken” dolls, the Bruins went for more of a throwback with costumes from the Pixar film, “Monsters Inc.”
Advertisement:
Marchand was fittingly handed the role of the wise-cracking Mike Wazowski, while Trent Frederic stole the show as the film’s gravelly-voiced secretary, Roz.
The Bruins have adopted several themes over the years as part of the annual Halloween visits. Beyond “Barbie” in 2023, other motifs included Nintendo characters in 2022 and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” in 2021.
Waiting game continues for Johnson
Veteran forward Tyler Johnson once again practiced with Boston’s main group on Monday, but there’s still no word of a contract yet for the 5-foot-8 skater. After assigning Riley Tufte to Providence on Sunday, Boston has $1,108,460 in projected cap space, per PuckPedia.
———
Montgomery didn’t mince words on Monday when asked what Morgan Geekie (one assist in eight games) needs to do to get back to his standard set in 2023-24. “Play better,” Boston’s bench boss declared.
———
As far as team-wide improvements, Montgomery wants to see the Bruins continue to put opposing skaters under duress, as was the case during Saturday’s overtime win over Toronto. “Our puck pressure last game was the best it’s been, but it’s still not where it needs to be,” Montgomery said. “I would not come close to describing our team as relentless, and that’s where we want to get to.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com