SUNRISE, Fla.–Hampus Lindholm has been playing just fine in this first round playoff series. He and Brandon Carlo have combined to be a solid shut-down pairing against the Florida Panthers.
But when you’ve had a season that’s been worthy of Norris Trophy consideration like Lindholm had, one expects to see a little more oomph in the offensive zone. While he was plus-2 going into Friday’s Game 6 – not a bad number considering how reliant the B’s have been on their power play – he had not hit the scoresheet in any of the first five games. He had 10-43-53 totals in 80 regular season games.
Coach Jim Montgomery believes the offense will come if he keeps doing what he’s been doing in the defensive zone.
“This is true for all of our defensemen, but especially Lindholm. His offense always comes from great defense or moving the puck and joining,” said Montgomery. “You look at the goals he scored or the great passes throughout the year, it’s come from that. We just want him to keep focusing on shutting people down, which he’s done a great job of, and we know the offense is going to come. It’s kind of like (David Pastrnak). Great players, they figure it out. It’s just a matter of time. It’s a small sample size right now.”
While Lindholm had played a go-go role much of the regular season, especially early on when Charlie McAvoy was out, his focus has shifted in the post-season.
“I want to be two-way guy every game,” said Lindholm after the morning skate at Florida Live Arena. “But obviously, we’ve been starting a little more in the D-zone with faceoffs and having that role. But I’m here, I want to win hockey games. This time of year, that’s all I care about. I’ll embrace whatever role they want to give me.”
Lindholm said his offense will come down to recognition of the chances that do present themselves.
“I just think when you have opportunities, you have to get up there and take advantage of it. You never want to force anything,” he said. “They play pretty aggressive but any time you get the chance to get up there and beat the rush and be patient, it’s going to be open.”
If there’s one thing that the Panthers have done that has been troubling for the B’s is their ability to cause turnovers with their forecheck, especially near the blue line. Lindholm has to be mindful of that before he thinks about producing at the other end.
“They’re coming hard and they’re always trying to bump us and get in our way,” said Lindholm. “You just have to be smart, move it quick and then get around them to join the rush. The middle’s going to be open if you get up quick there and you can try and jump in and help out.”
While the offensive numbers have not been there for Lindholm, it’s not smehting he’s overly concerned about.
“I try to focus on us winning games. That’s always been my kind of game. That’s how I play,” said Lindholm. “It’s not something that I’m too worried about. You’re just trying to help the team win hockey games. But obviously there’s going to be some opportunities to jump up there, you just have to be ready when they’re there and take advantage of it.”….
After starting Game 5 with some different lines, Montgomery planned on going with more familiar units. With a line of Tyler Bertuzzi-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak starting Game 5 for the first time, it looked like some of that unfamiliarity led to the first goal against when Bertuzzi backhanded a feed into his own slot.
“With Bergy coming back and us having some success, that changed what the lines looked like to start the game, but we quickly went back to what’s familiar,” said Montgomery. “We thought the second and third period, because the lines were familiar, we had a lot of of moving play toward their end.”
Would familiarity be what Pastrnak, held to two goals in the first five games, needs?
“Pasta has the ability to assimilate his game to lot other people’s strengths, but clearly there’s people he’s played with that he’s had a lot of success with this year,” said Montgomery. “So that familiarity, knowing where you’re going to be in certain situations – entries, O-zone play – enables him to get to his comfort place.”…
David Krejci, suffering from what the team has termed to be an upper body injury (believed to be an arm or elbow) made the trip and skated in a non-contact jersey. He planned to take warmups and make a decision after that, but the fact that he did not take part in any of the power-play drills indicated he wasn’t ready…
As he did before Game 3, Linus Ullmark did not partake in the morning skate but Montgomery said there were no worries about him and that he’d get the critical start.
“We weren’t worried in Game 3, either, we just didn’t tell you,” said Montgomery….
After sitting out the previous three games, Connor Clifton went back in and Matt Grzelcyk was scratched.