In Outdoor Games, Bruins Know to Keep It Simple

BostonBruins.com - Patrice Bergeron has seen it all when it comes to outdoor hockey.
From his days playing on the lake by his home in Quebec, to Winter Classics in the shadows of the Green Monster, Super Bowl banners, and Touchdown Jesus, the 35-year-old knows well what it takes to conquer the elements.
And you can be sure he'll be drawing on all of his previous experiences when he hits the ice on the shores of Lake Tahoe on Sunday evening for NHL Outdoors against the Philadelphia Flyers.
"That's what I've noticed over the last few outdoor games, you need to simplify your game," said Bergeron, who will be suiting up for his fourth outdoor game. "The fact that you're outdoors, there's no fans around you with no stands, it's a bit of an adjustment. You definitely need to keep things simple and not overthink.

"We've been doing this, most of us, since we were five years old. Brings back a lot of memories, try to enjoy the event and stay in the moment and take everything in."
Keeping all of that mind will be crucial in such a unique setting, particularly in the aftermath Saturday's opening Lake Tahoe game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, which was postponed after one period due to poor ice conditions caused by blinding sunlight. The contest was scheduled to resume later Saturday night.
"I don't think you want to put too many different sorts of packages in. What I mean by that is, if you have power play, a couple of breakouts, the adjustments have to be straightforward," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "You don't know how the end boards are going to be. There are just some things you don't know. The other thing here is the wind. There is some wind out there. Are you skating into it? So that effects a little bit of the pace of the game.
"Maybe you are putting pucks into areas when you are down wind when you are trying to make tape-to-tape passes, which I think is outdoor hockey anyway. The ice gets bumpy no matter what. No matter how good of a job they are doing, you are dealing will elements. The sun might melt a spot, or the snow accumulates. I think it is much more about straight lines and managing the puck, because it will be bouncing a little more.
"Dumbing it down is probably the simplest way to go. Guys get back to their roots as kids and just get out there and play hockey."

Given that a similarly sunny forecast has been projected for Sunday afternoon, the NHL pushed back the start time for Bruins-Flyers until 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET with the hopes that the weather is less of a factor later in the day.
"I don't think it changes anything," said Bergeron. "Now that we know, we can prepare towards that and have a pregame routine and have a little bit more time before the game to get ready. I don't think it changes anything. I truly believe that the league will do the best job they can to get us good ice and a good environment to have a good game."
The lack of glare will likely end up being most beneficial for the goaltenders. Tuukka Rask, slated to get the start on Sunday, spoke with Colorado goalie coach, Jussi Parkkila - who coached Rask when he was growing up in Finland - and was told that the conditions out at the rink were challenging for the netminders between the pipes.
"They're pushing our start time back so that might help glare. If the sun is still out, I think it's gonna be pretty bad for goalies. Nothing you can do about it, just try to adapt and track the puck as best as you can," said Rask. "There's a lot of things we can't control; weather is one of them, the sun is one of them…wearing the eye black, that helps a little bit with the glare.
"If the sun is in your eyes, that won't do anything, so sunglasses is another option. Other than that, there's really nothing you can do. I'm not worried about it. Things are out of our control and we'll go about our business as usual."
The Bruins have yet to skate on the Tahoe ice after Saturday's early-morning practice was scrapped due to overnight snowfall. Boston and Philadelphia, instead, skated at the local South Lake Tahoe Ice Rink, meaning they will enter Sunday's contest without having experienced the unique sightlines and oddities of playing outside of a stadium or arena.
Two years ago at Notre Dame, the Bruins were also forced to practice inside the day before the 2019 Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks after heavy rain made it impossible to skate on the outdoor rink.
"They were still trying to do some repairs to the rink. It hadn't been up that long so they just felt it would be better off to keep people off it," said Cassidy. "[At Notre Dame], families were able to come then and that was disappointing. There was probably about 100 people. We ended up having a family skate over where the Fighting Irish play their college games.
"Not quite the same as being outside. That's twice now we weren't able to enjoy a little day-before atmosphere. We will get there [on Sunday] and I am sure it will be great."

Cassidy did have a chance to see the rink up close on Saturday morning when he walked over to the site with general manager Don Sweeney to get a look at the surroundings. Boston's bench boss was impressed with what he saw.
"Looks great. The views are awesome. They have done a really good job with how they framed the rink with the scoreboard," said Cassidy. "The atmosphere's great. A lot of people in town skiing. A real sort of winter feel.
"Once we get at it, I think it will be a little bit easier to tell. Disappointing that we didn't get to get out there this morning just to have some fun. Just to get outdoors in an outdoor rink. It is probably one of the best outdoor rinks ever built."
It will, no doubt, be an experience to remember for all involved. But in the end, two important points are on the line as the top two teams in the East Division square off for the fifth time this season, making a victory that much more important.
"That's what we're playing for is two more points," said Brad Marchand. "The thing we're trying to do is take it all in. There's a lot of things out of our control. We're just here to make the most of it, enjoy it, very unique experience and one that we'll probably never have again in this sort of setting. Trying to make the most of it and have fun…that's part of it, the whole experience."