{"id":93901,"date":"2019-06-02T15:54:27","date_gmt":"2019-06-02T20:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=93901"},"modified":"2020-08-24T11:49:39","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T16:49:39","slug":"former-michigan-state-defenseman-krug-helping-set-offensive-tone-as-boston-takes-2-1-stanley-cup-final-lead-over-st-louis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2019\/06\/02\/former-michigan-state-defenseman-krug-helping-set-offensive-tone-as-boston-takes-2-1-stanley-cup-final-lead-over-st-louis\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Michigan State defenseman Krug helping set offensive tone as Boston takes 2-1 Stanley Cup Final lead over St. Louis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"15<\/a>
Torey Krug speaks at Detroit’s Fox Theatre after being named the 2012 CCHA Player of the Year and Best Offensive Defenseman (photo: Rachel Lewis).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ST. LOUIS<\/b> — Former Michigan State defenseman Torey Krug has put forth a number of impressive performances offensively for the Boston Bruins on their run to the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n

Entering Saturday\u2019s pivotal game three against St. Louis with 12 points in 19 games, Krug elevated things to another level.<\/p>\n

Krug potted a second-period power-play goal and set up three others as the Bruins routed the host Blues 7-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.<\/p>\n

The four points set a franchise mark for points by a Bruin in a Stanley Cup Final game and ties Brad Park (twice), Bobby Orr, Carol Vadnais and Zdeno Chara for most points by a defenseman in any postseason game.<\/p>\n

Krug\u2019s explanation for his play thus far in the postseason is simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep your head down and go to work,\u201d said Krug, who played three seasons at Michigan State from 2009 through 2012, amassing 25 goals and 83 points. \u201cMyself and [defensive partner] Brandon Carlo, that\u2019s been our motto for a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what\u2019s going on around us. It doesn\u2019t matter what matchup or who you\u2019re playing against. You just put your head down and continue to go to work. That\u2019s what I\u2019m feeling right now and I\u2019m going to continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Krug was a key component of a Bruins power-play unit that was, quite simply, dominant. The power play has been critical throughout the playoffs but looked pedestrian at times in both Games 1 and 2 of the series. On Saturday, that came to life posting a perfect four-for-four on a man advantage.<\/p>\n

All four of Krug\u2019s points came on the power play, making him the fourth player in NHL history \u2013 and only the second defenseman \u2013 to record four power-play points in a Stanley Cup Final game.<\/p>\n

He joins Jean Beliveau, Denis Potvin and Joe Sakic on that list — some pretty weighty company.<\/p>\n

The reason for the power play\u2019s success in Game 3, says Krug, was a simplistic but determined approach that the team put forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a night where everything went our way,\u201d said Krug. \u201cWe tried to be more decisive and assertive getting pucks to the net off one or two passes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we knew someone was going to shoot the puck off one or two passes, it allowed our guys to just get to the net in front of the goaltenders eyes and just recover a puck if there was a rebound to be had.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the power play provided major momentum in the game for the Bruins, the defensive effort that Krug and his fellow blueliners put forth was just as critical.<\/p>\n

After a game two loss where the Bruins defense often seemed back on their heels allowing St. Louis\u2019 aggressive forecheck to establish, Boston\u2019s blueliners transitioned the pucks particularly well, frustrating a St. Louis offense that didn\u2019t get nearly the zone time it hoped.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour breakouts start with a good gap at the offensive blueline,\u201d said Krug. \u201cOur gaps were great tonight. We were able to go back and get pucks. And once we did get it, we were able to make quick decisions. Our wingers were able to battle the pucks out and able to go on odd-man rushes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just our defensemen. Our forwards have to be there as support valves and they did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Krug and the Bruins are now just two wins away from hoisting Lord Stanley\u2019s Cup. But don\u2019t think that will lead to any overconfidence. The Bruins already had a lead in the series after Game 1 only to watch the Blues battle back the next game.<\/p>\n

And Krug and many of his teammates were in this same spot in 2013, leading Chicago 2-1 only to see the Blackhawks rattle off three straight wins to take the title.<\/p>\n

This team, though, may have more depth than 2013 as was evident on Saturday with seven different goal scorers and 12 different players recording points.<\/p>\n

This time of year, that goes a long way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to need [depth] moving forward,\u201d said Krug. \u201cDepth has been a strength of this team, starting in the regular season having to play with different lineups. When you have [multiple] contributions, we\u2019re a tough team to beat.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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