Well, at least
one of my predictions has been correct.
On Thursday, the Bruins sent rookie Ryan Donato down to Providence. Donato has just one goal in 11 games and has not scored since the second game of the season, a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Five-on-five has been an issue for the 22-year old Donato. He’s a minus-four on the season and has yet to score five-on-five with his lone goal coming on the power play. Offensively, scoring goals is not the only issue for Donato who has failed to pick up any assists so far.
Coming into the 2018-19 season, expectations were high for Donato after a solid showing in 12 games with the Bruins last season. Donato has bounced up and down and in and out of the lineup this season. He’s had issues winning puck battles and doing the little things away from the puck that is needed from NHLers.
The learning curve of the NHL is often difficult for younger players, but Donato has struggled adjusting to the NHL game.
One of the biggest concerns I have with Donato has been his lack of shots. Known as a shot-happy forward, Donato has just 12 in his 11 games. When you’re not doing what you do best and not doing the little things needed to maintain playing time, it’s hard to expect to see your name in the lineup each night.
The Bruins are getting absolutely no secondary scoring as they continue to be a one-line team. Because of this, head coach Bruce Cassidy and company can’t afford to show much more patience with Donato. Had the secondary scoring from others been there, maybe the leash on Donato would a bit longer, allowing him to try and figure it out at the NHL level.
Donato and the Providence Bruins will take on the Charlotte Checkers Friday and Saturday night.
After missing the last five games with a concussion, it sounds like David Backes is set to return Saturday night in Nashville.
"It appears that way. Talked to him today, felt really good, so barring anything out of the ordinary, he should be good,” Cassidy said Thursday afternoon following the team’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton.
Backes hasn’t seen any game action since taking a hit from Oilers defenseman Matt Benning in a 3-2 loss to the Oilers on Ocober 18th.
“I see [Benning] coming out of the corner of my eye and I’m bracing for a hit and it’s one of those ones where I feel that he’s got every opportunity to hit me through the body, maybe separate me from the puck,” Backes said on Thursday. “But then the majority, if not all of the contact is right to my face, jaw, chin. To me, that was the kind of the hit they’re trying to get out of the game, when you have every opportunity to go through a guy’s body. But it put me out for two weeks.”
Backes is pointless in seven games as he’s moved up and down the lineup, playing both the wing and center positions. Backes was back on the third line Thursday, to the right of Joakim Nordstrom and a rotation of Anders Bjork and Donato.
Backes has a steep concussion history behind him. After suffering several during his tenure in St. Louis with the Blues, this most recent one is his third since joining the Bruins.
“In the three concussions since I’ve been here there’s been no suspensions on them and I think all three of them have been on the line if not over the line. And there have been no secondary looks at them," added Backes.
Cassidy provided some updates Thursday on the injury front.
Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller skated together before Thursdays practice. Miller remains out with a hand injury after blocking a shot. Grzelcyk has been sidelined with a lower-body injury and has been deemed questionable for Saturday’s contest.
Cassidy admitted on Thursday that they’re a bit concerned with the status of Charlie McAvoy who did not skate on Thursday. McAvoy remains out with an upper-body injury. It seems like McAVoy has suffered a setback in his recovery.
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