Encore performance: The Bruins' top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak combined for three goals and eight assists during a 6-2 victory on Saturday afternoon. They'll be aiming to follow up with another strong offensive output on Monday night, but know the Lightning won't make that an easy proposition.
"To me, it's your typical best players being your best players. That's how you usually advance or win games," said Cassidy. "Those guys have to be drivers of the hockey club. I think it's a big ask to ask them to be drivers 82 times a year and every night in the playoffs. They play against good players; they're going to have a level of success. So, it worked out in Game 1. Tonight, we've got to expect that they're going to put a plan in place to limit that.
"That's where the Krejci line and even our third and fourth lines and our D are going to have to contribute some offense…they're going to come out and want to dominate tonight again, but we can't go out with that mindset that we're going to rely on three players. I don't think that works for us."
Dishing it out: Krejci said his main focus in Game 2 will be to get the puck to Rick Nash, who potted two goals in Game 1.
"My job today - give him the puck," said Krejci. "He had some luck around the net last game. I'll try to get him the puck as much as I can."
High expectations: Krejci also praised Jake DeBrusk for his efforts in Game 1, which included a gritty shift in the third period that was highlighted by the rookie taking a big hit, blocking a shot, and then diving to knock the puck out of the zone.
An impressive effort, for sure, but one that's expected from everyone at this time of the year.
"This is a great story for you guys, but he's been a good player for our team - Game 7, Game 1," said Krejci. "Hopefully he can keep it up in the playoffs. You've got some things that you don't like to do in the regular season, blocking shots or stuff like that. Everybody's got to do it. It was his turn. Good for him. But that's expected from all of us."
Switching centers: Cassidy swapped Riley Nash and Sean Kuraly during Game 1, but plans to return them to their normal spots as the third and fourth line centers, respectively. That, of course, could change as Game 2 progresses.
"Probably the play of those two individuals for the most part and the play of who they're matched up against," Cassidy said when asked what would prompt another switch. "We can only preplan so much. Obviously, they get the last change, so if it's [Nikita] Kucherov and [Steven] Stamkos, then Nash has been a good 200-foot player for us all year, and Kuraly is a guy that we trust against anybody.
"Different kind of styles. Riley is a little more methodical in his approach, and Sean is all about closing, taking away time and space, so whatever the best fit is, that's how we'll probably determine that."
