Matt Poitras logged two assists in the Boston Bruins’ 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday night at TD Garden.
Matt Poitras has returned to the NHL.
The 19-year-old center played in his first game since Dec. 16 Saturday night in the Boston Bruins’ 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Poitras’ run in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship was cut short after Team Canada lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“It definitely felt like a good reset, getting back here and getting back in the lineup. You kind of get those jitters of your first game again, a lot of excitement,” Poitras said Saturday following the game.
Poitras centered the third line between Danton Heinen and Trent Frederic, and picked up two assists through 11:01 of total ice time. Tampa Bay was down to 10 forwards, prompting Bruins coach Jim Montgomery to shorten his bench, and thus limiting the bottom six’s action.
Nov 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) controls the puck during the third period against the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports“I thought [Poitras] was really good. Looked fresh, he was making plays,” Montgomery said Saturday.
“The third and fourth line unfortunately got a little bit short-suited because that’s who I was matching them up against…Looking forward to the next game where they have four lines in Colorado and we can play him a lot more.”
Regular third-liner James van Riemsdyk was sidelined Saturday with a day-to-day, undisclosed injury. In his absence, Frederic shifted over to the wing to make room for Poitras at the pivot position.
Prior to Poitras’ departure to World Juniors, the Bruins implemented a rest schedule for the rookie, including planned nights as a healthy scratch. As Poitras works his way back to a consistent role, Montgomery said the focus is on his game management and not extending shifts, but still letting his play-making flair shine.
Nov 6, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras (51) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports“I felt good today, legs felt good. Felt like I played a pretty good game, had the puck, made some good decisions,” Poitras said. “First couple shifts it was fast, obviously the ice is smaller than what I was playing over in Sweden. It was a bit of an adjustment the first couple of shifts.”
Poitras’ third-line slotting is not a guarantee moving forward, though. Montgomery suddenly has a handful of players who have proved themselves as centers – the obvious Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle, but now also Frederic, Morgan Geekie and Jesper Boqvist. Georgii Merkulov – who was sent back down to AHL Providence Saturday – had a good pro showing down the middle, too.
Montgomery is insistent on putting Poitras in “situations that he’s going to be able to have success,” and that can vary night to night based on opponent matchups and the movement within Boston’s own lineup.
Poitras will have another chance – and likely more ice time – to prove he’s the man for the job Monday night when the Boston Bruins face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena for 9 p.m. puck drop.