Ahcan Looking to Make Most of Latest Opportunity with B's

BOSTON - Jack Ahcan stands at just 5-foot-9 and weighs in at a modest 180 pounds.
But when the 24-year-old charged into the corner with 6-foot-3, 206-pound Corey Perry on Saturday night against the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, he proved that confidence can do wonders in offsetting any limitations in size and stature.

"You've got to kind of feel out some guys," Ahcan said following Monday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena. "It's a bigger, stronger, faster league. He had a step on me a little bit. Kind of made a last ditched effort to get him off the puck. Felt kind of good to get that feeling of his body and see how strong and heavy he is."
Ahcan, who had compiled 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 17 games for Providence, acquitted himself quite well in his season debut despite playing his off side for much of the night. The blue liner landed two shots on goal and a hit in 15:31 of ice time, while displaying his patented puck-moving ability out of the Bruins' zone.
"He played more to his identity as a player," said Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco. "We talked to Jack before about what he needed to do, and it was play his game. He's a guy that transitions the puck well. He can jump up in the play at the right time and try to create some offense for us off the rush, on the attack, and also be good at the offensive blue line. That's another area we felt he could help us in.
"I thought he did a good job. The biggest thing we were looking is for him to be a responsible player in his own end. He did it. He did a good job. He was competitive, didn't seem out of place last game, anyway, against a good hockey club. It was a good game for Jack…he looked like he was more comfortable last game."
Ahcan concurred, acknowledging that he feels more at ease in his latest go-around with the big club. The Minnesota native pointed to the challenges that came with the pandemic-shortened season - his first professional campaign - as being roadblocks that stood in the way of becoming completely comfortable with life at both the AHL and NHL levels.
"Getting in a few times last year, was a little scrambly," said Ahcan, who played three games with Boston in 2020-21. "Getting back to it this year, it was pretty sweet…it was nice getting the full camp in before the season. Last year was kind of a quick camp and just played two teams last year [in the AHL], not even in our rink. The rink was a vaccine center down at the [Dunkin' Donuts Center], so we were playing in Marlborough against the same two teams, so this year's it's been nice to get accustomed to a regular AHL season.
"Even going on the road and stuff, getting in late, just kind of adapting to a regular AHL season. We didn't really get that last year. Every game was at 1 [o'clock]…you have a full week of practice, and you play one game on the weekend. The same two teams. It's nice to get it out of the way this year."

Missing Men

Charlie Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk, Tomas Nosek, and Linus Ullmark all missed practice on Monday with non-COVID related illnesses. As such, the Bruins pushed their Monday afternoon flight to Vancouver back a day in an effort to allow the group some time to recover.
"There's been a change in plans. We're gonna leave [on Tuesday] now instead," said Sacco. "We wanted to give our guys an extra day just to hopefully feel better, reset again, 24 hours, and go from there."
Charlie McAvoy, who missed Saturday's game against the Lightning with a non-COVID related illness, skated on his own before practice.
"Feeling a little bit better. We'll know more [on Tuesday]," said Sacco.
Patrice Bergeron took a maintenance day to tend to a broken nose, which he suffered on Thursday night in Nashville. "He'll be with us [on Tuesday]," said Sacco.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy, meanwhile, remains in COVID-19 protocol and was not scheduled to travel with the team, at least to start the club's road trip to Western Canada. Boston's bench boss is feeling better, however, with Sacco saying Cassidy's symptoms have "dissipated."
"I spoke with Butch this morning," said Sacco. "It's just a matter of going through the protocol."

Marchand Set to Return

After serving his three-game suspension for slew-footing, Brad Marchand is set to return to the Bruins' lineup on Wednesday night in Vancouver. While the Bruins clearly missed their leading scorer, they managed to secure three of a possible six points during his absence.
"I think we knew that was going to happen, where we were going to sort of find our game. I thought the last couple of games have been really good. We didn't win [against Tampa], but we should have. We dominated that game, or the guys dominated that game…I thought we did a lot of great things that we can build on," Marchand said of the Black & Gold, who are 6-3-1 in their last nine games.
Two of Boston's three regulation losses during that stretch came at home against the Oilers and Flames, meaning the Bruins will have an opportunity for some payback on the upcoming road trip that will take them through Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary.
The Canucks, meanwhile, announced on Monday that they fired head coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning, while naming Bruce Boudreau as their new bench boss.
"These aren't teams we typically follow, but they play hard," said Marchand. "They're really good teams. And obviously with the weapons that Edmonton has, they're always dangerous and Vancouver making some changes that normally lights a fire.
"So, it's going to be a tough road trip. We're excited about it. Looking forward to getting back out there…those are good teams that are going to have good runs this year. It's a good measuring stick for us and games we're excited about."

Back for Moore

The Bruins announced on Monday that they had recalled veteran blue liner John Moore from Providence. The defenseman was placed on waivers following the conclusion of the preseason but stuck with the big club for the first couple of weeks of the regular season (he played his lone game with Boston on Oct. 22 in Buffalo), before being assigned to the P-Bruins.
The 31-year-old has played in nine games for Providence this season, posting a goal and four assists, but had been sidelined since Nov. 19 with an injury.
"He's a guy that brings a lot of energy to the group," said Sacco. "He skates well. He can also provide us with some puck-moving ability, getting the puck and making it easier coming out of our own end on our breakouts. I think the reports down there were that he was playing well until he got injured down there. Certainly, he's a guy that brings a lot of speed and a lot of energy to our group. With Johnny, it's just staying consistent."
Ahcan made it a point to compliment Moore for the veteran leadership he displayed during his time in Providence.
"He definitely brought a spark down to Providence with us," said Ahcan. "We were kind of down in the dumps, not the best start down there and he came in with a great attitude. Always learning from someone like him, staying on the ice after with him, practicing with him, seeing the way he kind of just approaches everyday life at the rink is pretty awesome to see. He rubs off on a lot of guys."

Rask Skates with B's

With Ullmark missing from practice on Monday, the Bruins turned to a familiar face to fill the net alongside Jeremy Swayman. The club's all-time winningest goalie, Tuukka Rask, who remains a free agent as he rehabs from offseason hip surgery, took to the ice with his old pals for the first time since the 2021 postseason.
"Bringing the excitement level up a little bit there for the boys," said Sacco. "Yes, it's good to see him out there. Just by watching him, he looked good. I can't tell by watching how close he is or not. He looked good out there. I think he had some fun. The guys were excited to see him there too."
Marchand, however, acknowledged that Rask's presence at practice makes it that much more difficult to score.
"It's always fun having him out there. It's incredibly frustrating shooting on him," said Marchand. "You try to shoot as hard as you can, and he just makes it look so simple. He's just such a gifted and talented goalie. Obviously Tuukks is one of the best to play, during our time anyway.
"But, we have two great goalies that regardless of who goes in every night, we have to do a job and go for it. But also, Tuukks is another guy that can come in and make a difference."