Bruins Motivated To Take Control Of Postseason Fate

The new-look Boston Bruins have proven they are not planning to simply pack it in for the remainder of the season.

After watching key members of Boston’s core group be shipped off to new teams at the trade deadline, the remaining Bruins players battled for two straight wins, bringing the club within two points of a playoff berth.

“I think a team in our position, I think it means a lot. It’s going to be hard, we know that,” Bruins forward Morgan Geekie told reporters following practice at Warrior Ice Arena Wednesday. “Everyone’s been in our position once or twice and knows what it’s going to take.

“It does come down to motivation, but we are a good group in here. I think we’ve got a lot of underrated skill and make a lot of plays. But, we’ve got to rely on our structure and strength of game and motivation is going to be a big part of that.”

The Bruins defeated two powerhouse teams ahead of them in the standings by blanking the Tampa Bay Lightning the day after the deadline and then displaying the character of the team with a gritty come-from-behind win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

“We’re kind of taking control of our own fate,” Geekie said. “(The moves) forced our hand a little bit, but it’s never a bad thing. Especially when you’ve been struggling with it consistently all year.”

Interim head coach Joe Sacco has been challenged to put together successful line combinations, not only since he took over 21 games into the season, but again after the NHL roster went through an overhaul. So far, the moves have proved successful, whether it’s the new line combinations or the motivation pushing the players.

“I think right now with the group that we have, whether it’s opportunity that’s going to drive them or whether it’s coming together as a team and trying to say, ‘Hey, we’re still in this,'” Sacco said after practice. “The motivational factor, I don’t know. It’s hard to compare it to other teams. … But, the focus for us really is just these guys want to prove something, right?

“Especially some of the new players that we have in here. They want to prove that they belong here, be part of a winning organization. I think that’s going to move the needle, and I’m hoping that moves the needle forward for us here down the stretch.”

The Bruins will look to build on their winning streak when they travel north of the border to battle with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Puck drop from Canadian Tire Centre is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game on NESN after an hour of pregame coverage.