Backes, Nash Provide A Veteran Edge

BOSTON - The Bruins have seven players on their roster that have won a Stanley Cup. They also boast a roster that included six rookies - four of whom are experiencing the postseason for the first time.
But the deepest group on the Black & Gold's roster includes those that fall in the middle of those two categories - a cluster consisting of young and old, unproven, and experienced, skilled and tenacious.
And perhaps the two players headlining that collection are David Backes and Rick Nash, a pair of veteran wingers that provide a combination of size, grit, scoring touch, and the willingness to mix it up when such situations arise.

As such, the duo - which has combined for 134 postseason games, but fallen short of the ultimate prize - has entered these Stanley Cup playoffs with an edge, one that was quite visible during the Bruins' 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their first-round series on Thursday night.
"[Backes] gets the big picture, that if you want to have success it's every night, it's consistency, it's ups and downs. You're in it for the long haul," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "[Nash has] been close as well with the Rangers. He knows the value."
Both Backes and Nash were major contributors to the victory, seemingly in the thick of the action both before and after every whistle. Backes potted Boston's second power-play goal and delivered five hits in 15:45 of ice time, with Nash landing three shots on goal and three hits, while drawing a penalty that led to Brad Marchand's power-play goal early in the first period.
Nash's performance was made all the more impressive given that it was his first game since March 17. The 33-year-old - acquired from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline for a package that included Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, and defense prospect Ryan Lindgren - missed the final 12 games of the regular season with a concussion and slid seamlessly back into his place alongside David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk on Boston's second line.
"For a guy that missed some time, he was a real effective player for us and didn't look like he missed time. He's a hungry guy right now and wants to do his part," said Cassidy. "He's an important player for us. That deal was made for a reason. He's an elite player…unfortunately, we lost him for a stretch there, but we saw it before he got hurt. Makes us more of a threat of a team."

The 15-year NHL veteran played just four Stanley Cup Playoff games with Columbus before arriving in New York in 2012 and went on to suit up in 73 postseason contests with the Blue Shirts - including a loss to the Bruins in the second round in 2013 and an unsuccessful trip to the Stanley Cup Final against Los Angeles the following spring.
"It was awesome," Nash said of the atmosphere at TD Garden. "You know I've played here in the playoffs as a visitor; I know it's a tough place to come into, so it's nice to be on the other side of that."
Backes, meanwhile, played in 49 playoff games during his 10-year tenure in St. Louis, with the Blues' longest run coming in 2016, a loss to San Jose in six games in the Western Conference Finals.
"[The postseason is] more predictable, more of a will game than a skill game," said Backes. "There's obviously an element of skill, but that kicks in after you put the work in and have to get your nose dirty a little bit. That's the part of the game that I really relish being a part of."
And that's why the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the perfect place for Backes' game to thrive. In today's NHL, the 6-foot-3, 221-pounder's straight-line, tenacious style takes on a much more prominent role when the calendar turns to spring.
"I think the game simplifies," said Cassidy. "More straight lines, there's more get pucks behind, forecheck, physicality, get to the net, dirty goals. Right up his alley, all of those things. There's less freewheeling, less open space. You've got to fight for your space, and again, he excels at the former, so that type of game. I think it's as simple as that. Big-bodied guys with good hands and will tend to have good resumes in the playoffs, and he certainly has that."

Backes showed just that on his Game 1 goal. Parked in front as Boston's net-front presence on the second power-play unit, he redirected a David Krejci feed from his left skate to his stick and flipped the puck over Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen for the eventual winning goal late in the second period.
"He was really good [on Thursday]," said Cassidy. "He won pucks on the boards, finished his checks, was good on that line. He's got some young kids with him, [Noel] Acciari and [Danton] Heinen. For the most part, plays with younger guys this year. He's been a mentor for them.
"And then, to get the goal in front of the net…he's a leader. He says the right things, he plays the right way and I think he really relishes this type of hockey this time of year. It seems to bring out the best in him, and I thought he was excellent tonight."
Fortunately for Cassidy, Backes is not the only player on his roster that fits that description.
"We've got lots of guys in that room that understand what it takes this time of the year, and they're trying to impart that knowledge on the young guys," added Cassidy. "Part of it is on the head coach, as well. I talk to them about that all the time. They're a good resource for me, as well."