Bruins’ Marco Sturm Sends Clear Message To Matthew Poitras After Being Recalled
'He’s got to be himself'
The Boston Bruins made a roster move, recalling forward Matthew Poitras from the AHL, and he’s expected to draw into the lineup on Thursday.
Boston is set to take on the Philadelphia Flyers at home on Thursday, and Poitras will make his season debut. Ahead of his season debut, Bruins head coach Marco Sturm sent a clear message to the young forward.
“I think first of all, he’s got to be himself,” Sturm said pregame on Thursday. “I don’t need to see anything special out of him. I want to see him go up and down, and play really good defensively.
“He is going to play with a guy like (Marat Khusnutdinov) today; he’s going to have his back. Today, he just has to play hockey. That’s going to be the main thing.”
Poitras will draw into the lineup as forward Elias Lindholm is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The 21-year-old forward skated in 33 games last season with the Bruins, recording one goal and 10 assists for 11 points. In the AHL this season, Poitras has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 39 games.
Ahead of his return to the NHL, Poitras believes he’s found more confidence in his game and expects to make an impact for the Bruins.
”I think just simplifying my game,” Poitras said. “Trying to play fast and move my feet. When I simplify my game, the other stuff kind of just takes care of itself.
“I think the mindset was not to kind of sit and wait. For me, it was just go down and not worry about what’s going on up here. Do my thing and worry about where I am.”
Poitras has skated in 66 career NHL games, recording six goals and 20 assists. The Bruins selected Poitras in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Bruins will host the Flyers on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET in their final home game before the Olympic break. Boston will then go play outside on Sunday as the Bruins will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
