Krejci could be difference-maker for Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

BOSTON --It's easy to forget what happened in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs and in the 2011 playoffs. But in each of those seasons, the Boston Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, winning in 2011, and were powered by David Krejci.
Krejci, who has played second-line fiddle to center Patrice Bergeron for most of his career, was the leading scorer in the playoffs in each of those runs. He had 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) en route to hoisting the Cup in 2011, and bested that with 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) when the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 in 2013.

He will get the chance to do it again this season, starting Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, NESN).
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"It's huge," Bergeron said. "He's always been that player that always kind of makes a difference in the playoffs. It seems like he thrives on that, so it's huge. We talked about having depth and he's one of those guys that definitely makes a big difference. He's a big part of our offense. So, to have him play the way that he plays in the playoffs is always huge."
Playing with Rick Nash, the type of power forward who generally seems to get the best out of Krejci, the second line will be depended on to provide scoring. That's especially the case against the Maple Leafs, a team that went out and acquired center Tomas Plekanec at the 2018 Trade Deadline from the Montreal Canadiens, a player who has been known to get under the skin of Krejci.
"We know what they've got," Krejci said. "We know they've got good players. They play a good two-way game. But at the same time, it's up to us. We've got to make plays."
That is specifically true of Krejci, and his line.
The Maple Leafs likely will devote significant resources to stopping the Patrice Bergeron line, one which scored a combined 99 goals in the regular season (David Pastrnak, 35; Brad Marchand, 34; Bergeron, 30). Krejci was quieter, with 44 points (17 goals, 27 points) in 64 games.

"Our first line's one of the best lines in the League," Nash said. "But they need help too. They need secondary scoring, and that's where we come in to help."
That's where Krejci comes in. It's when he shines. Especially with Nash.
"He can do it all," Krejci said. "He can make plays. He's got lots of speed. He can shoot the puck. So he can do it all. … He's a big body (6-foot-4, 211 pounds), and he can skate. For a big guy, he's one of the better skaters in the League. So obviously it helps to have that guy on my wing."
Nash, who was acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 25, can finish on Krejci's passes and help create space for a line that also includes rookie Jake DeBrusk. He can be what Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic have been for the Bruins in the past. Nash, though, has been slowed by a concussion that made him miss the final 12 games of the regular season, although he is expected back for Game 1.
"I feel like it took us a couple games, but then we got going," Krejci said. "We started reading off each other well. Unfortunately, he got hurt, but looks like he'll be back for Game 1. Obviously that's a big help, not just for my line, for the team."
It may not come together immediately, though. Nash has only played 11 games since being traded, meaning that he and Krejci have not had nearly the time to develop chemistry that, say, Krejci and Lucic did before runs. And it will take some time for Nash to get going after not playing since March 17.
But the potential is there. And the Bruins will need it.
"I feel like I've been a good defensive forward for a long time and it's time to prove it," Krejci said. "Playoffs is about proving what you can do."
And as he's shown in the past, he can do as much - if not more - than anyone else.