Mason Lohrei was not a member of the Boston Bruins last year when they lost a heartbreaking Game 7 to Florida Panthers, but he got a good taste of what the vibe will be like when he’s expected to step on to the Garden ice for his first home playoff game on Tuesday for the potential close-out Game 5 against the Toronto.
And while he stepped up in the big moments of playing Games 3 and 4 in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, playing under control while everyone in the building is rooting for you will present it’s own challenges.
“Ir’s going to be cool. The Garden is a pretty special atmosphere. I actually went to (Game 7) last year just as a fan. It’s insane. The fans are nuts here. I’m excited,” said Lohrei after the B’s Monday practice. “I guess I’ll be be trying to stay even-keeled and treat it like hockey but there’s a lot of energy in the building and I’ll try to harness it and use it the best you can.”
With the injury to Andrew Peeke in Game 2, the lanky rookie got the call in Toronto and, judging from Monday’s practice, he appeared set to start Game 5 alongside Charlie McAvoy again.
Lohrei made the play in Game 4 that helped give the B’s the lead they would never relinquish, stepping up for a loose puck along the boards and getting it to James van Riemsdyk for the 1-0 goal.
You could almost see his confidence grow after he made that play. He also seemed pleased that he didn’t have to extend himself to make it.
“I was just sticking to the system and doing what we’re told to do. Just stayed low and pinched along the wall and we got a good bounce out of it,” said Lohrei. “You only learn the systems through playing and getting that experience. Throughout the year I’ve definitely gotten a better grasp of what we’re doing.”
He earned more confidence from his coaches as well. He played 14:19 in Game 3 and 17:36 in Game 4.
“I thought he got better (in his second game) and he’s someone who’s really helped us have success. He’s been a big part of our success so I’m really happy with how he’s competed, how he’s defended,” said Montgomery. “The offensive part is something we’ve always been happy with, but he’s a lot more direct offensively, too. The simple puck plays that he’s making were being rewarded with the looks in the O-zone and also on the rush.”
Now he’s got to do it again. And again and again. It’s the nature of the playoffs. It can be a tense time, but Lohrei has also told himself that it’s just hockey, after all, and it should be enjoyed. Adn as Brad Marchand said after Game 4, youthful adrenaline can override inexperience. The captain spoke from his own experience.
This moment has been Lohrei’s dream for as long as he can remember, and that includes when he was sitting in civvies last season at the Garden.
“Ever since you were little watching hockey, I was like ‘I want to be out there one day fighting in the Stanley Cup playoffs,” said Lohrei. “But as you get closer to your goal, especially last year, you start to realize it a little bit more and it was really motivating.”…
As usual, there was no announcement about which Bruin goalie will start on Tuesday, but it would be hard to go away from Jeremy Swayman with what he’s done to this point (3-0, 1.34 GAA and .956 save percentage in this sseries, 6-0 against the Leafs this season).
Linus Ullmark, who played very well in the team’s lone loss of the series, is not about to grumble about playing time now.
“There’s a reason that I’m here today, and it’s not being a sulky little baby about not playing or anything like that,” said Ullmark. “I’ve tried to stay professional, supporting the guys throughout this period here, go out in practice and try to get better, try to push people in any way that I can, obviously and try to bring that energy and try to do whatever I can when I’m off to the side as much as when I’m in the middle.”
Ullmark was asked about the communication from the coaching staff about “the plan.”
“It’s been good. I don’t think there really is a plan,” he said with a smile. “You just take it day by day and Sway has been playing tremendously. I have a lot of faith in that fella and I’m very happy for him, obviously. That’s what I try to do as well, is try to stay positive and supportive of him. Because if I don’t support my guy, I’m not supporting the team. And if I’m not supporting the team, I’m not supporting him, so it kind of goes hand in hand.”…
David Pastrnak has two goals and two assists through the first four games, which are not bad numbers. But the volume of chances has not been there and Pastrnak said that there’s a reason for that. He’s wanted to cut down on his giveaways and play a less risky style that he may get away with in the regular season.
“I wanted to be very physical early on in the series because a lot of times you play against the same defensemen for the whole series so it was my plan to try to be physical and focus on the details,” said Pastrnak. “Honestly, (it’s) defense-first and limit the risk in the play which I did. Obviously it’s a big part of (why) I’m not getting as many looks. But I’m fine with it because I’m still getting enough looks. So hopefully throughout the series I’ll get more and more looks.”…
The defense pairings in B’s practice provided a little surprise with Derek Forbort taking shifts with Parker Wotherspoon while Kevin Shattenkirk skated with Matt Grzelcyk. Montgomery said both Forbort and Justin Brazeau were options for Tuesday.
But was there any “trepidation” in possibly playing Forbort in this situation, considering that he hasn’t played in a game since March 2?
“As long as that word is, there is as much trepidation, yes,” said Montgomery with a chuckle…
Andrew Peeke and Matt Poitras skated prior to practice. While it would seem unlikely that Poitras would be available after undergoing major shoulder surgery, the fact that Peeke, who left the Game 2 after blocking a shot with the instep of his foot, is able to skate is at least encouraging that he could be available again at some point…
Neither Marchand nor Danton Heinen practice. Montgomery said they were taking maintenance days. Heinen also took a maintenance day on Friday’s practice in Toronto.