The Boston Bruins aren\u2019t going to get any better if they don\u2019t tackle their problems head on.<\/p>\n
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media Friday that he\u2019d be making some lineup changes both at forward and on defense. While this could mean many different things, one player, in particular, should see some time up on the ninth floor\u2026 as we\u2019d say if the B\u2019s were playing at TD Garden.<\/p>\n
\nCassidy:
\n“We’ll be making some changes, both at forward and
\nD.”<\/p>\n\u2014 Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) August
\n14, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNick Ritchie, who the Bruins acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Danton Heinen, should be removed from Boston\u2019s lineup ahead of Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound winger was acquired by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney to provide an extra layer of grit and toughness heading into the playoffs, which is something we haven\u2019t seen at all through two games against the Hurricanes.<\/p>\n
In Boston\u2019s 4-3 overtime win over Carolina on Wednesday, Ritchie appeared to be a weak link in the Bruins chain. The 24-year-old finished without a shot on goal in 12:50 of ice time and laid out just four hits, lacking a large physical presence.<\/p>\n
On another note, Ritchie also played a role in two goals against during Game 1. In the first period, he gave up on a play along the boards, allowing Warren Foegele to break loose and eventually turn the play into a Joel Edmundson goal, as every Bruin on the ice watched the puck.<\/p>\n
\n?GOAL!?<\/p>\n
Joel Edmundson gets the Canes on the board with 6:58 left in the 1st period.<\/p>\n
Hurricanes: 1
\nBruins: 0 pic.twitter.com\/ttU1Dg3R4H<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) August 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Again in the third period, it was Ritchie who could be seen puck-watching, which eventually ended in Haydn Fleury firing one past Tuukka Rask from the point.<\/p>\n
\n?GOAL!?<\/p>\n
Haydn Fleury\u2019s shot from the point evens things up once again midway through the third.<\/p>\n
Bruins: 3
\nHurricanes: 3 pic.twitter.com\/lLqMzGa6qo<\/a><\/p>\n