In a good development for the B's, McAvoy is getting his game back

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- One of the lingering questions entering this second round series vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning was the health of some of Boston’s key players. Both Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy had their physical issues in the opening seven games vs. Toronto, and at times it appeared to hamper their effectiveness.

Bergeron answered plenty of those questions with a dominant two-goal performance against the Lightning in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon, and so did the 20-year-old McAvoy with his own impressive two-way performance in Boston’s 6-2 win over Tampa at Amalie Arena.

McAvoy had a couple of assists, threw out a team-high five hits and had a plus-2 rating in 22:29 of ice time in the win, and appeared to be skating with much more confidence than he did in the first round against the Maple Leafs. It certainly was also duly noted by the B’s coaching staff as well after the victory.

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 “We liked his game better. He was moving a little more effortlessly around the ice,” said Bruce Cassidy, of his rookie D-man in the Game 1 victory. “He was more involved offensively. That’s more his game. Obviously getting hurt and missing time, it takes a little while to get up to speed and then you’re jumping into the playoffs. It’s a hell a pace especially against Toronto, so hopefully he keeps on building from that [performance].”

Some of it was clearly about regaining the swaggering confidence in his puck-moving game. Some it was also clearly about the rookie D-man ditching the tape job on his left knee that he’d adhered to along with the knee brace he’s still wearing in games. Clearly it’s all related to the youngster still simply healing up his left knee to something much closer to a normal state, and time is the only thing that can accomplish that.  

“I was playing with a lot of tape on the knee, and as we’ve got toward the eight weeks with a Grade 2, 3 [sprain], it’s starting to feel better as we go and getting more and more healed,” said McAvoy. “[Got rid of] tape and now it’s just the brace, and it feels like I’ve got 20 pounds off my leg. I still need to acclimate, but right now I feel good. You can recognize when I have a good game and when I don’t, and it really feels good to take a step forward. When I’m at my best I’m just playing consistent all-around hockey, and that’s what I’m striving to do know.”

The increased mobility has led to McAvoy’s confidence returning to his game, and a much more effective player at the back end of the Toronto series, and in Game 1 last weekend against the Lightning. He again looks like he not only wants the puck on his stick on the break-out, but he’s looking to make things happen when he does, and that is McAvoy’s game when he’s at his best. The turning point may well have been the 26:43 that McAvoy logged in that decisive Game 7 vs. the Leafs. Now he again looks much more comfortable and confident, and McAvoy is a big difference-maker for the Bruins team when he gets into that zone.

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“It felt like my legs were good [in Game 1]. It felt like I started to get into that in Game 7 [against Toronto] a little bit more with my skating, and that continued on Saturday. It’s going to continue to be a process. The playoffs are very hard, demanding hockey, but as long I can skate and make my high percentage plays, and just play naturally, that’s when I think I have the most success,” said McAvoy. “I thought I started out worse, and then I got better as that [first round] series went on. I’m a confident person and I know the guys in here believe in me no matter what the ups and downs are.

“They know that I can play hockey. Coming back from an injury like that is something that’s tough to come back from. But I feel like I’m getting better, contributing now and I need to continue to do this. I’ve gotta do whatever I can whether it’s breaking pucks out, playing good ‘D’ or blocking shots, that’s what hockey is all about.”

A more effective, effortless McAvoy in the second round is great news for the Bruins, and bad news for a Tampa Bay team that seems to be going up a Black and Gold group that’s just now hitting their full playoff stride.

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