BOSTON — Jim Montgomery is trying out potential penalty killers.
Without Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen, who were both regulars on the Bruins’ penalty kill last year, Montgomery is looking for replacements. In Tuesday’s 4-2 exhibition win over the Washington Capitals, he gave Matt Poitras and Justin Brazeau, two young guys competing for roster spots a shot.
“We lost a couple of penalty killers so we’re auditioning people,” Montgomery said.
The Capitals came up empty on three power plays with just three shots on goal and Montgomery liked what he saw.
“Brazeau got out there on the penalty kill. We know he has a real good hockey brain,” he said. “He actually did some real good things. He might develop into a penalty killer. It was good to see. Give us some options.”
Brazeau said it had been a while since he was in that role.
“It was one of the first times I’ve killed. It was something I used to do in juniors a little bit,” he said. “I think it’s something I can bring to my game and help the team a little bit. … It obviously feels good any time the coach trusts you to expand your role. I’m looking to do anything I can to help the team win.”
Poitras helped his cause to be a penalty killer even when the Bruins weren’t shorthanded. Faceoffs, which are obviously critical when killing a penalty, were a struggle for him as a rookie last year, but he won four of five on Tuesday.
Montgomery wasn’t as happy with his power play — The Bruins had four power plays in the game and even had one power-play goal by Fabian Lysell in the second period. But overall, Montgomery wasn’t happy. He thought the unit, which was missing several players who’ll be part of it the regular season, needed work.
“I still want to see more on the power play. In general, the power play movement was really slow,” he said.
Veterans wear letters this time — Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy still haven’t appeared in a preseason game yet so the Bruins have had different players in leadership roles. Nobody gets the captain’s “C” in Marchand’s absence, but Hampus Lindholm. Brandon Carlo and Trent Frederic each wore an alternate captain “A.”
Trent Frederic played center and Matt Poitras lined up at right wing — Montgomery wanted to give Frederic, who played mostly wing last year a long look at center and Poitras, who’d been largely a center, a long look at wing during the preseason. Both players lined up in their new spots along with Brett Harrison on the top line.
“(Poitras) did good things down low. He hung on the puck really well offensively,” Montgomery said. “On the power play he showed the rustiness of being off. The puck movement was a little slow for my liking, but that was true of everyone on the power play.”
