After a post-Olympic run of success, the Boston Bruins fell on tough times to start the month of April, losing five straight as they clinched their playoff spot through the back door with a couple of losses by teams behind them in the standings.
Needing a shift on the ice, the team decided to call up top prospect James Hagens, who signed his entry-level contract after six games with the Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout deal. Hagens had one goal and three assists in the AHL in that six game span.
Boston called Hagens up late last week, but didn’t play him in the first half of a back-to-back weekend set. They lost that game 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
So, Hagens got the green light to lace up on Sunday afternoon against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And his presence made all the difference for the Bruins, who were trying their best not to enter the playoffs on a seven-game skid.
Hagens picked up his first NHL point in the second period, grabbing the secondary assist on a goal from Henri Jokiharju. Though he’s only officially listed at 5-foot-11, 177 pounds and billed as a skill player, the 19-year-old made a heady, physical play on the forecheck to keep the play alive for Boston and give Jokiharju a chance to score.
It’s certainly not the way most fans expected Hagens to pick up his first NHL point, but that gritty forechecking play is a sign that the undersized youngster is well ahead of where many thought he’d be in his NHL debut.
Sturm Praises Hagens Game Following 3-2 Bruins Win
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm, who held Hagens out on Saturday against Tampa Bay, had nothing but praise for Hagens after his first game.
âI thought he played great. I thought he didnât make any mistakes. I also liked his linemates. I thought all three of them connected very well,â Sturm told NESNâs Adam Pellerin in the postgame. âThey were not afraid to play, they moved the puck, and they did a lot of good things. So, I really enjoyed watching and being part of Jamesâ first NHL game as a Boston Bruin.â
The 19-year-old played on a line with 23-year-old Marat Khusnutdinov and 21-year-old Fraser Minten. They were the quickest line Boston put on the ice all game and looked like they’d been playing together all season. It felt like a line that could easily make an impact in the playoffs.
The youth of that line should also excite all Bruins fans — it could certainly be the start of something that last for a long time.
Bruins Lock Up Playoff Spot Saturday
The Bruins have just one game remaining, coming on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. Boston will be in a wild card slot; it is one point ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who also have one game remaining. A Senators win and a Bruins loss in game 82 would put Boston in the No. 8 seed to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
If the Bruins grab the top wild card seed, they’ll play the winner of the Atlantic Division, which could be any of Tampa Bay, Buffalo, or Montreal.
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