Just a couple of weeks ago, it was open season on Casey Mittelstadt.
Seemingly a lightning rod for criticism since he was drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2017, Mittelstadt found himself a healthy scratch in Utah on Oct. 19 and the knives were out for him again.
But a funny thing has happened. Mittelstadt has pushed back with some very good play, and in all three zones with his vastly improving second line with Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson. And on Saturday at the Garden, he earned third star honors by scoring a goal and assisting on Arvidsson’s game-winner in the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The healthy scratch is a clear line of demarcation in Mittelstadt’s season.
“I think I’ve said this to your guys before. I could sit and pout about it but what’s that going to do for me?” said Mittelstadt. “I’ve wanted to be a hockey player my whole life so I feel very grateful too be able to do this and to wear this sweater. For me, there’s really no time to pout. Just come in the next day and keep working hard. Things usually work out when the hard work is there.”
Coach Marco Sturm got the reaction he wanted from Mittelstadt after the scratch.
“Casey was not happy when he got scratched. He was pissed off and he should be. But he showed a reaction,” said Sturm.
Another major development for Mittelstadt was being moved from center to wing while Zacha has taken over the pivot duties.
“To be honest, I think it’s really helped me, too,” said Mittelstadt. “It’s one of the things Marco and I talked about when he took me out. I think there were times earlier in my career when I was struggling in Buffalo and (former coach) Donnie Granato would put me on the wing and I felt like it really helped me find my game again. I’m very comfortable along the walls. I think I’m good along the walls. It gives me some confidence throughout the whole rink. It’s been great. And Pav’s a proven center. It’s not like we put someone in there who can’t do it. He’s doing a heck of a job and he’s a heck of a player.”
The second line has also been relied upon to shut down the opposition’s best players.
“I think we’re just playing with speed and making plays. If mistakes are made, guys are covering for each other and working hard. I think we’ve done a good job sorting things out in the D zone and going up ice from there. He’s kind of challenged us with the top line of the other team, so I feel like we responded well,” said Mittelstadt.
Turning on power
Under the guidance of assistant coach Steve Spott, the Bruins went into Saturday’s game with the 13th-ranked power play, clicking at 22.2%. That station isn’t the ultimate goal, but it is much better than last year, when it finished ranked 29th with a 15.2% success rate. Sturm has liked what he’s seen.
“It’s been really good. They’re already ahead of what we were hoping for. They’re really getting the message of what we’re trying to do here,” said Sturm. “I think we’re a threat now on the power play. It’s going to change a little bit with (Elias Lindholm) out. He gave us a really good faceoffs to get the puck right away. (Viktor Arvidsson) will be in his spot, not taking the draw but he’s played on good power plays, too, so we’re very confident that he can do the same as Lindy on that unit.”
Sturm has liked the fluidity of the man advantage.
“It’s puck movement, player movement. You don’t have to be in the same spot all the time,” said Sturm. “I think it’s having a faster mindset, more aggressive, more direct mindset. It’s just a combination of everything. So that’s what we tried to do. It starts with faceoffs, breakouts. We already scored a few breakout goals because we have good structure.”
The B’s had one unsuccessful power play on Saturday.
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Happy with this six-pack of defensemen the previous two games, Sturm scratched Mason Lohrei for the third straight game.
The coach was hoping it was providing the young defenseman with some motivational ammunition for when he returns to the lineup, whenever that may be.
“He should be pissed. He should be very pissed. He should be upset,” said Sturm. “He works hard in practice. He’s ready, he’s just waiting for his opportunities. I think that’s the goal, having him out there and be a little different when he comes back. Watching from upstairs, watching some other players what they do well, what they do wrong, too. It’s a learning process for him right now and that’s why we do it. But when it’s his turn, we’re hoping he gets better.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan Aspirot has given the B’s some steady, no-frills defense on the third pairing with Henri Jokiharju. In his third NHL game, the 26-year-old Aspirot skated 15:22 with two blocks on Saturday.
