BOSTON \u2013 All any coach with championship aspirations ever wants for his team is to be in a good place heading into a well-deserved week-long break.<\/p>\n
The Boston Bruins qualified for that place of good standing with Bruce Cassidy Tuesday night after they came from behind from a 2-1 hole heading into the third period to post a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at TD Garden.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state of the team is I think we\u2019re in a solid position,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cI don\u2019t think anything has been given to us. I do believe there\u2019s room for growth for that 60-minute effort from start to finish. Health wise, we\u2019re trending well. Tuukka [Rask] skated today, looks like he is going to be fine, so that\u2019s very important. I\u2019ve got to get a report on Charlie [McAvoy], went into the boards, and Grizz [Matt Grzelcyk] late, so let\u2019s see what\u2019s happening there. Now, you\u2019ve got a couple of young guys that we feel is pushing the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was plenty to feel good about as they head into the break with a lot of good news.<\/p>\n
First and foremost, Cassidy\u2019s Bruins are 29-10-12, good for 70 points and first place in the Eastern Conference. Only Washington (71 points) has more in the NHL.<\/p>\n
\n#NHLBruins<\/a> VIDEO RECAP: @Trags<\/a> has the recap of an important 3-2 Tuesday heading into NHL All-Star break: pic.twitter.com\/3XkLotY8iI<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) January 22, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Boston ironically wiped out a third-period deficit to post the victory, the opposite of one of the problems that has plagued them in stretches in the first half. They have blown multiple goal leads in six games, winning just one of those six in which the lead disappeared.<\/p>\n
The Bruins didn\u2019t let Sunday\u2019s 3-0 blown lead stay fresh in their mind Tuesday, getting the win despite a power play that was scoreless in five chances, with just three shots on goal and despite giving up the first goal for the 18th time this season. Remarkably, they are an NHL-best 11-3-4 in those games.<\/p>\n
“If you watch around the league, this has been a crazy yeqr for comebacks,” DeBrusk said. “It’s not just us. It’s not an excuse. Obviously, you want to close games out, especially when you have multi-goal leads but obviously, it’s going to be a theme. First, you have to get the multi-goal lead and then go from there.”<\/p>\n
The Bruins had the right mindset heading into a weeklong respite, a break that will include a trip to Puerto Rico for stars like Patrice Bergeron, Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood pros. Doesn\u2019t surprise me. Our guys are good that way, and I think the way we finished in Pittsburgh probably gave us a bit more focus,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cWho knows, if that had been a clean game and we just, you know, ran it, and like we did the other night, play solid from start to finish, who knows?<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe they would\u2019ve started to wander because there is a little content. So, I think it was two things: A, those guys are professional in there. I thought yesterday\u2019s practice was hard and good and good compete, so they understood that we\u2019re not going to ride it into the streak; every game is important, and again, the Pittsburgh result probably didn\u2019t sit that well with some guys, and typically when that happens, the next game, you\u2019re ready to go, and I thought we were in the first, ready to play.\u201d<\/p>\n