Sweeney Recaps First Round, Looks Ahead to Tampa

BOSTON - As the Bruins enjoyed a well-deserved reprieve after their Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, general manager Don Sweeney addressed the media at Warrior Ice Arena on Thursday morning to recap the Black & Gold's thrilling first-round series and look ahead to the Second Round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here are some highlights from his 20-minute meeting with the press:

Praise for the Leafs: Sweeney was impressed by the Maple Leafs, particularly their young offensive talent. Twenty-year-old winger Mitch Marner collected nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the series.
"I have to acknowledge, Marner was a special player in the series," said Sweeney. "Obviously, they're a talented group, but I thought he was pretty special in the series…I started up here last week saying that we knew the quality of the opponent and the task at hand. I don't think anybody was surprised it ended up at a Game 7. Twists and turns to get there.
"But a really quality team. Very dangerous offensively and certainly well coached. We had our work cut out for us and it took every ounce of our hockey club to find a way to win. We're fortunate that our best effort was put forth in the third period and we're moving on."
On to Tampa: The Bruins won three of the four regular-season meetings against the Lightning this season, finishing 1 point behind Tampa for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
"Well they won the Eastern Conference," said Sweeney. "I think it's an equally formidable, if not even more so, task. Not a lot of holes in their lineup. We had some success in the regular season against them. We're going to have to find a way to replicate that and probably be even better.
"We had pockets of our game in this past series that we know we need to improve upon and it's going to take our best effort from start to finish to play against Tampa. We're a confident group to go in. We deserve to be here. We're moving on and I'm sure they feel the same way."

Cassidy honored: Sweeney made sure to take a moment to express his admiration for the job coach Bruce Cassidy has done this season and acknowledge Cassidy being named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, presented annually to the NHL's top coach.
"I'd be remise if I didn't acknowledge Bruce being named one of the coach of the year [finalists] and his staff and the job that they did," said Sweeney. "I think again it's a reflection of the growth of our team…I have a long history with Bruce. He's taken a long road to get back for his second opportunity to be a head coach. I think he's earned it. To me I think the whole series of jumping in last year and this year has been an extension of the work that he's done. I think our players have responded."
McQuaid does it again: Adam McQuaid once again put his body on the line in Game 7 when he chased down Leafs forward Zach Hyman on a second-period breakaway by diving to swat the puck away, before crashing into the end boards. The veteran blue liner needed assistance from trainer Don DelNegro and retreated briefly to the dressing room, but later returned to the bench for the remainder of the game.
"He really got on his horse to try to make a hell of an effort and that's typical," said Sweeney, while acknowledging that McQuaid did not suffer any major damage on the play. "You guys have all known Adam and what he brings to this hockey club. He broke his leg early in the year [blocking a shot] and he's back playing. He'd be the first one to lay down and eat the next shot too.
"Those guys are really important at this time of the year and we're happy that he's coming out of there unscathed and available for Saturday."
DeBrusk was dynamite: Rookie winger Jake DeBrusk had a Game 7 performance to remember on Wednesday, potting two goals, including the winner early in the third period. The 2015 first-round pick finished the series with five goals and seven points.
"There's been a lot of conversation about that draft," said Sweeney. "Our scouts were adamant in the players that we chose in that draft. Jake was identified as the guy that they wanted to draft - probably last night [for] a lot of the same reasons. We got a message from one of his former coaches that he knew that was in Jake.
"Last year was a development year for Jake, and I think this year has been a real nice step, and you're starting to see the player that hopefully he can continue to become night in and night out on the biggest stage. It's a testament to our scouting staff, the development group and to Jake himself [who] deserves most of the credit."
Showing confidence: Despite some ups and downs during the first round, Sweeney said he is confident in Tuukka Rask as the Bruins advance to the second round.
"We're through. We got through that round," said Sweeney. "Some games he played really, really well. At the end of the day, we have a lot of confidence in Tuukka and I think going into the next series we'll remain the same level of confidence that we can get the job done and he'll be there for us."