BOSTONThis is David Krejcis time of year.
It always has been and it always will be for a player thats always risenor fallenaccording to the grandness of the stage and the importance of the moment. Whether it was filling in for the Bruins as a rookie when Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard were both injured or dominating the final six weeks of the season after coming home from a turn on the Czech Republic entry in the Winter Olympics, Krejci is "the man" at the biggest moments.
So it probably shouldnt have come as a surprise that the playmaking center surged to the occasion for a hat trick in an important 4-3 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden. For a guy that scored only two goals during the entire 13-game month of February, it only took him one game to match that once the calendar page flipped to March.The numbers back it up, as Krejci has put up 13 goals and 20 assists along with a plus-14 in 32 games during the month of March over the last three years.
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He likes to thrive on big occasions. Theres no doubt that every playoff hes played in, hes been a good player. Every year at the end of the year, hes always been a good player, said Claude Julien. What I remember the most is my first year here when Krejci was a rookie. We lost Patrice Bergeron and then Marc Savard with a broken back, and Krejci came in and just took over."That was the last month when we were fighting for a playoff spot. Hes known for those kinds of finishes, and hes starting to show us that hes ready to do it again.
The center knows the playoffs will be here quicker than a Zdeno Chara slapper, so hes already started his playoff drive. Thats a good thing for the Bruins.
You cant just turn the switch on when the playoff comes. Youve got to start now, said Krejci. Its 20 games to go, every game is important and you cant take a day off here, since now until the end of the season. Youve got to go out there, do your best and try to get ready as much as you can for the playoffs.
Some were lendingcredit to Krejcis stint as a right winger for getting him back on track, and that may be partially truewhen it comes to sparking his game. But pairing Krejci and Milan Lucic with Tyler Seguin for Thursday nights contest seemed to be the driving force. The 20-year-old Seguin coaxedboth Krejci and Lucic to step on the gas pedal with skating speed from the very shift of the game, and the trio did damage on two of their first three forays onto the ice. Speed kills at the NHL level and Seguin helped all three push the envelope.
When I play center it always helps me to play with two speedy guys, Looch and Seggy. Seguin reminded me a little bit of Nathan Horton tonight, said Krejci. You know, I was really excited before the game. They click well together, so hopefully they can keep it going in the next few games.
But one game doesnt make a season, so forget about this one. You just take the positive and try to keep it going in the next game.
The first scorewas all Seguin motoring down the right side of the ice and putting the Devils defense on its heels. The New Jersey defensemen attacked Lucic as he crashed the net with Seguin carrying the puck on the right side, and that openeda seam for Krejci as the third man trailer.
Seguin found Krejci with the pass and the pivot beat Martin Brodeur low to the glove hand for the games opening score. Eventually the Devils struck for three goals during a Boston nap in the second period, but Krejci was at his big game best again in the third period.
The game-tying strike gave Krejci his 15th goal of the season thats already far surpassed his goal production last year.Butbig game Krejciwasnt done. The entire Bruins team turned into a net-crashing force during the overtime session, and that aggressive net-front presence provided the difference.
The overtime goal started with Patrice Bergeron getting the puck close to the net with Zdeno Chara throwing his 6-foot-9 frame toward the goal mouth. The Bs Captain batted the puck down with his glove and kept the play alive, and then it was Krejci that backhanded the puck to the ice and somehow lifted a shot over a sprawling Brodeur.
That sparked a rain of hats from the sold out Garden crowd and a much-needed victory for a Bruins trying to climb their way out of stupefying mediocrity.
The best part about the whole shift: the way Krejci fought through Devils attackers to control the puck in the offensive zone. It was dogged determination to keep possession on the blade of his stick while the rest of his line changes out.Krejciwasnt going to lose the battle in overtime even if the goal arrived as he was runningon fumes at the end of a very long OTshift.
Krejci is at his best when he controls the pace and uses his wingers and gets into those areas where he can score those goals, said Lucic. Obviously, its been kind of an up and down year for David and its been frustrating at times for him, but its great to see him work through it.
Krejci heard his name whispered in trade rumors for the first time this season and now carries the burden of being a 5 million per season player after signing his contract extension. Hes one of the few minus players on the Bruins roster this season and it hasnt been easy for No. 46 since Nathan Horton went down with a concussionand took their lines chemistry with him.
But one thing the Bruins have always been able to count on with Krejci is the natural elevation to his game when things matter. Hell always have a place in Boston as long as he remains a threat to lead the team in goal-scoring during the playoffs and embarks on his season surge in March.
Krejcis tenacity, creativity and energy level allsoared in a flashy hat trick performance. The Bruins will need about 20 more just likethat as they search for someoffensive bedrock with pieces still missing due to injury.