Awesome game from Merkulov, crafty, skilled and smart. Awesome pass on the Brazeau goal showing the creativity/dynamic type skills he possesses. I’m ready for him to get a long look in the NHL this year, he has been consistently doing that in the AHL. I also focused in on him in the d-zone and he actually has a real solid two way game, good defensive habits and his hands actually cause turnovers when he is defending. Picking peoples pockets/great stick in passing lanes.
Really happy for Lysell with the game he had, I think he needed that for his own confidence. This was a good preview of what he can bring when he is on his game. Speed, skill, he was more engaged battling tonight. He ate a few solid hits from Tom Wilson and seemed more determined to create plays. I’m really rooting for both him and Merkulov to really stick with Boston this year!
Poitras looked awesome/dangerous every time he was even near the puck. He also looked a lot stronger, stronger in board battles and took checks well. Really excited about what these young offensively gifted forwards and bring to Boston.
I’m not a big Patrick Brown fan at all but he had a really really great game tonight, solid goal and really that entire 4th line was solid. Abate/mclaughlin were also buzzing and causing havoc/really good cycles. If those guys could finish a little better, they probably could have each had a goal tonight. Great effort by that 4th line.
Other forwards who I focused on was Nelson, solid overall game, skates well for his size and good positioning/compete and board work. Nelson has a few good plays on the pk too. Wonder what he will be after a full year in providence. Intriguing size and skill set.
Good on tufte for the goal and solid effort, wish he used his size more/had more of a mean streak. He was around the play all night.
Great goal by Brazeau, sometimes I’m unsure of his overall play/skating but he consistently is there, right place right time and scoring/competing hard. I’m rooting for him to build on his last season.
Johnston looked alright. Frederic was alright, Harrison I don’t know what to make of, needs more time in providence for sure but I can’t seem to really figure him out. Not sure he does anything really well or hasn’t shown much. Maybe it’s a confidence thing, I know his shot/offensive instincts are decent so maybe just needs more seasoning.
D overall seemed pretty solid. Sweezey has played solid, hits, took some big hits. Seems to make the smart easy plays most of the time. Oesterle I noticed jumping up in plays quite a bit, showing some offense, don’t know much about him. Solid effort from Callahan.