PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Before and after the game, all the participants were teammates united by a common goal. But for 60 minutes Tuesday night, there were no friendships if the color of the sweater didn't match.
The Bruins held their Black and White Game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and while some intra-squad scrimmages may be relatively tame affairs, this one definitely had an edge to it.
It never got out of hand and there were no scraps or brawls, but there was plenty of hitting as players tried to leave an impression on the members of the coaching staff and management team watching intently.
"In a game like this you ask the guys to play to their strengths," said Bruins assistant coach Geoff Ward, who ran the White team bench. "If a guy's got that [physical style] in his game, then you want to see it. I think when you try to do things that you're not as a player, that's when you get in trouble. There's guys trying to make an impression, so if anything I thought there might have been a little more earlier than it started."
It may have taken a little while to get going, but the hitting definitely came. Matt Bartkowski delivered the biggest shot, belting Jared Knight along the boards. Knight's helmet popped off, but he was no worse for wear as he headed back to the bench.
Veteran Chris Clark, invited to camp on a tryout, made his presence felt as well, manhandling Tyler Seguin in one memorable battle in the corner, then drawing a slashing penalty for a two-hander on defenseman Colby Cohen.
Cohen, for his part, insisted he approached the game just like any other, regardless of the fact that he was going against players from his own organization.
"Not for me," Cohen said. "There's guys trying to make the team, trying to win jobs, so this is a serious game for a lot of guys."
The Bruins did lose newcomer Joe Corvo during the game, as he left with what was termed a "mild lower-body injury." Despite that, the Bruins were pleased with the physical tone of the affair.
"I thought the young guys showed themselves well," said Bruins assistant coach Doug Jarvis, who ran the bench for the Black squad, which won 4-1. "They came with energy and they played hard.
"I think you had some players trying to make a point, trying to show themselves well for those that our watching," Jarvis added. "Obviously it's an evaluation process going on, so they're working hard and they're intent on showing good things."
