CALGARY — Brandon Carlo did not deserve to be out of uniform on Tuesday against the Flames. The same goes for Matt Grzelcyk the previous night against the Oilers. Ditto for Connor Clifton on Feb. 25 against the Canucks.
But such is the reality, and the luxury, which the Bruins are enjoying after acquiring Dmitry Orlov from the Capitals. For now, they have too many defensemen. Every team would want to say the same.
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Orlov is not going anywhere. First, he needs to continue playing to acclimate to his new team. Second, all he’s doing is producing points (five in the last two games) and winning (three 3-0-0 as a Bruin).
“When you play, you try not to think too much,” Orlov said. “Just use your instincts and follow the system. Especially offensively, it’s always easy. It’s not, like, special, working in D-zone coverage. In the neutral zone, you’ve got a system. But in the offensive zone, everybody has to move, look out for each other and talk. If we’re going to do that, it’s hard to defend any team. It’s special for me. I’ve never been on a new team. It’s still emotional. I’m trying to come down. But it’s hard to do.”
Orlov had two goals, one assist, three shots and four blocks in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime win over the Flames. It would be madness for coach Jim Montgomery to pull Orlov from the lineup.
“Hot stick,” said Charlie McAvoy, who scored the winner with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime. “Exceptional vision there on the third goal. All night, he was part of it. I don’t know what to say. What a pickup. What a pickup. He really shores us up on the back end. We deserve to have confidence in this locker room with the guys we have.”
In the first period, Orlov dangled through the Calgary defense and snapped a shot over Dan Vladar to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead on their first shot.
Later in the first, after Patrice Bergeron won an offensive-zone drop, Orlov hammered a one-timer past Vladar to make it a 2-0 game. The Bruins held a two-goal lead after 20 minutes despite being outshot, 19-5.
In the third, while working on the No. 2 power-play unit, Orlov made his best play of the night. From the right faceoff dot, Orlov approached relief netminder Jacob Markstrom with every intention of shooting. Instead, Orlov threaded a pass through Chris Tanev and onto the stick of Pavel Zacha at the far post. Zacha had an easy tap-in to tie the game, 3-3.
“Watching games of his in the past, I was always surprised why he hasn’t produced more,” said Montgomery. “Because he makes high-end plays.”
The truth of the matter is that having a surplus of blueliners is an oxymoron. The Bruins’ run of good health on defense will not stretch deep into the playoffs when the forecheckers arrive with more ferocity than usual. Just look at recent history. Carlo (head), Grzelcyk (shoulder), McAvoy (shoulder, COVID-19) and Hampus Lindholm (head) have all missed postseason shifts over the last two years.
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For now, though, Montgomery is in a position that his counterparts would envy. With a 17-point advantage over the second-place Maple Leafs, the Bruins do not care about results. Montgomery has the opportunity over the remaining 22 games to try different combinations, ease Orlov into the system and rest some of his defensemen.
“We plan to continue to rotate guys,” said Montgomery. “It’s going to be dependent on if guys have aches or soreness, they might come out. That doesn’t matter who.”
On Tuesday, Grzelcyk was back with McAvoy on the No. 1 pairing. Orlov, who played his strong side against the Oilers, flipped back to his off side on the second duo next to Lindholm. Lindholm, a trade deadline acquisition last year, liked his new partner.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Lindholm said. “We already knew that. Coming into a good team. It’s fun to see him keep playing the way he was before. He fits right in.”
It remains to be seen whether Orlov suits the Bruins best playing on the left or right. Again, the Bruins have plenty of time to make that determination. Injuries before the playoffs, for that matter, could make that decision for them.
“We’re fortunate,” said Montgomery. “We think Lindholm, Grizzy (Grzelcyk) or Orlov could play the off side as lefties because they’re such good skaters.”
Notes
Linus Ullmark stopped a career-high 54 shots to record his 31st win. The ace, who scored against the Canucks in his previous appearance, was at his best in the second period (19 saves on 20 shots). “The second was bad,” Montgomery said. “Calgary really outplayed us. If it wasn’t for Linus, the game would have been out of hand already.” … Nick Foligno injured his right leg in the second period and didn’t return. Foligno was hurt when Nikita Zadorov checked him into the boards. Foligno limped out of Scotiabank Saddledome after the game. … Montgomery did not believe Foligno or Taylor Hall (lower body) would be available for the Bruins’ home game against the Sabres on Thursday. The Bruins are not currently carrying any extra forwards
(Photo of Dmitri Orlov of the Bruins celebrating after scoring against the Flames: Derek Leung / Getty Images)
