Dave Lewis, Bruins Head Coach

Last night the Bruins did something very unusual unusual because you never played back to back road games in the same city but for some reason it worked out that way in the Bruins not only beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. The beaten twice general in their own building the coach of the Boston Bruins Dave Lewis joins us on the line hello Dave how -- Good morning -- I'm fine thanks. Your your team -- pretty hot hot right now effect I looked up this morning York currently tied. With Calgary and Montreal as the fourth best team in the late over the last ten games at seven and three what's the turnaround.

It a lot of different things but I guess. Had to pick one it would be that the team is becoming 18 they're they're becoming familiar with each other you know off the -- on the case there's some continuity some chemistry. And there's some confidence in this creeping in myself think that we can improve I think individually guys can improve but I think for right now you know overseeing a lot of signs of a team it's becoming a team

I -- David the beginning of the season he had to goaltender and -- in an -- Thomas and neither one of them one of them had. Emerge as the number one guy after 45 saves last night and when he won at third period are you comfortable in saying that Tim Thomas is the number one guy.

yet Jimenez has been playing all the games in particular kept at the numbers he is he's been the guy he's been the go to guys so he's establish that and he's performing at a level that. You know that's really important first when -- seeing the park he's he's confident he's big he's you know he feels good about his game and I think his team feels good about the game the being played.

At this moment 9 you don't. And can't have an unbiased opinion but at the quarter pole of the season that you think today you know char is saying Norris trophy type of defenseman for your team.

He has for us. Yeah he certainly has -- way I think that what he breezes is that an element that not many players bring. It is side has presidency is physical play has presence on the base and his -- offensive contribution -- he would like this vehicle but more or satisfied with that I just think he's a dominant player.

That day there's been a lot of commentary about hitting or the lack thereof. In the quote unquote new NHL -- we talked to you a while ago when you said you had a conversation with al -- about some things you can do to get around the new an NHL in this lack of hitting and one of the things as moving guys up their primary spots and and forcing them -- it go to spot that they're not very comfortable god shooting from. Are you are you confident that your team has has gotten that message our guys absorbing that message from him.

Well I think last -- it was a good indicator -- they did generate large charts but if you look at the replay of the game. -- a sharp came a perimeter from the outside and and not in danger areas -- the crease -- anything that. Was around the crease eager to be jumped on our defense cleared cleared the parker tried to -- so also some of the things that we we talked about it either so many issues that you -- as a coach go through your mind tropical the most important want to apply them. But I think right now the guys they're little close to each other it helps offensively helped defensively and he try to put that first -- secondary -- you take the primaries but at least you're without the park he would be control of. Of areas and that's civil we did last night I felt.

You get something interesting last night in in in the course of this season when your team has been two men down you have many times go on with two forwards and a defenseman and that penalty killing situation. Last night in the third period tie game two men down for a lengthy period of time you went with two defenseman what was your thinking.

Well I just you know two very intelligent guys and you know and and birdies big face soft a you know will do anything to. To get the puck helped blocked shot to make a play and that was just sort of a feeling at the moment that's the right thing to do it as it turned out it was a great thing to do so each game has a little different flavor each situation as a different flavors the culture court -- start to try to read what's rated the great times so. As it turned elect has said it was the correct thing to do.

Well -- has has been out to killing -- penalties in the past brad Stuart was out with him for this entire two man advantage as well disadvantaged. Is stored the kinda guy who EP weren't playing with it anal char would be a number one defenseman on a lot of teams in this league.

Yet he really import I think he's a tad bit underrated you know he doesn't have big offensive numbers in part of that -- could be because of -- and as the barbarism at. But I think the way that he competes the way that he shows up he plays but the injuries he plays hard plays -- tired army place physical though it -- then in that situation last night for the you know full flight country partly mark captured. What's defenseman on the -- wouldn't let them mafia sycamore want to know you're still there.

A data when asked a couple things about Phil -- I'll start with the first one. He played five minutes less than five minutes of our time what was the thinking there.

Well so that a couple of things last night's game that work acceptable so one processes of becoming a better player is receiving messages in the message was that which -- you. Figure out that the things that are important. You have to do for teams success that if you don't do that you know -- place so that's sort of happened.

Well what what what would you like to do that are just more responsible. Is that kind of a Normal situation for a young player especially an 18 year old 19 year old player.

Yep it is certainly is there's there's so many things that. That changed from you know from either junior arc your caller -- he get to the NHL level on the American hockey league. That the little things that we've been preaching very important things for -- as a group and his team. And nobody can sort of get get carpal launch on doing these situations if they do incorrectly veteran you'd you'd tend to media understand it a bit more but don't accept that or rookie camp. He can't accept that and you don't want to understand.

I know on our show we've made a lot of references to his knees very bright for for a guy in the NHL are you guys confident but I'm talking about -- off the eyes are are confident enough that. Have a live by himself or is he living with someone a member of the team college network --

With the family and he's been tremendous you know he's. Any time in the weight room easy watching video leadership sees his diet is -- all the different things -- from based -- a teenager in there's there's a lot to learn a little long. You know -- herbal nutritional herbal health report travel either every city goes to visit his cities -- lot of things happening in his world. That it's great for chemistry experience but if we try to guide me get some of the veteran players -- that -- are on the roads via. -- you hope that that's a positive always seeing you try to pick the good things that are important thing for him or.

A year ago today the Bruins traded Joe fort into the San Jose Sharks in in the aftermath of that glen Murray's production dropped off a little bad he's not the kind of person who can use a basketball term here create his own shot. He needs a playmaker and he's got. Marks of -- is a spectacular playmaker -- you'll feel Murray's game is right back to being as good as it's ever --

Well like I don't recall all the situations last year or so -- a few times and and the understanding for guy that the goals or yet to get the pocket he has to get open and yes suitable for most of the same time so right now the two of them have a certain more chemistry and they're they're finding played these are tremendous shot I think he's excited about the teams so those are all important things for us and we know that he can score goals in the league right now.

In supply its case I have to admit that -- unless you watch him play everyday at least am I'm saying this for myself. I didn't appreciate what kind of player this guy wasn't -- I watch him every night as he surprised you would all this year

well I I saw I don't know like east. I guess what you see a player worth more you know more private practice and in the games at all situations that yeah I'd have to appreciate a little bit more also. He's he's tremendous patience with -- package creative skilled he he battle he -- not a big guy but he he won't back down from anybody. And I I I'm pretty unhappy with the way he's playing his game defensively to win. I think that's real important message for all our young players that -- that you know probably your best passer playmaker and the team is also contributing defensively -- it's a good combination to have that. And those -- good -- everybody else and then he's you know a dynamic -- our player our players. You know sort of runs around him.

Now Dave I was trained as a journalist I believe completely in objectivity so this is probably the most objective questions when asked you. -- what even reading lately.

Well I just finished a book about the New England Patriots

and how was it no.

Yeah patriot radar what is -- book the -- at -- exact. But the but the gist of the story was pretty interest.

Yeah the author of shaky guy. Both those sketchy.

I just finished the book and it was sagas are really enjoy.

You'll find there's anything you can take from a build ballot check let's say in the way he operates reading that's up in the book are they're things that you say hey you know what I'd like to try that

actually I did -- one of the -- I don't recall which game is we've turned out beer good -- Everett said it was correct because we won but there is determined -- somewhere in mortal ears as some of the players are talking about we lost our swagger. And that he broke that down to two more definite terms in relation to. Paying attention to the details -- in -- if for example in football I guess hanging onto the ball not throwing. You know bad passes that aren't in bad areas sort sort of related that that it you know both. Just paying attention to the Ito oh what's important to win about when you -- swagger -- do that it's not the terms swagger but it's how you get to that level but not quite applies to.

Yeah I -- 2 season may have lost the Green Bay and and that some guys in the paper saying we lost our swagger and he went to a team meeting in and broken down -- that.

That's exactly area -- right.

I appreciate you read that and now you have now than you're you're a member of the family now. And it had looked so thank you sorry.

And Dave I I know that the NHL is different today and and I know that I'm old enough so that I kind of missed some of the aspects of the old NHL having acknowledged that it's different. What Paul Mara did in the first game in Toronto the -- he stuck up for a teammate and the message that I think that sent throughout the team I think was crucial for your club do you agree or disagree.

I think is part of hockey I think that are becoming about our team and it you know he's still alive and and media haven't seen -- much -- this team this year but I think that particular message was that I'm going to stick up for you when you're gonna stick up for me. And there's nothing better than that because when he gets -- dealt with that's the guy sitting beside June across music that that's important if it seems more important that you that's. That's who we should think of it is that my teammate is more important it may well do everything I can do to support my teammate who writes I saw that I think the teams.

Final question EU. You actually hesitated early on in the year to put the group together of Sturm Bergeron and boys you gave your reasons and I understood it you then eventually as the roster shifted around it you got different people you went back to it. Argue yet seeing them beat the kind of line that they were a year ago.

Just starting I think they're Jewish scratching the surface as a group. Of three you know people -- like -- Brett or just got two goals in the last couple games. And urge she's probably been in order for most consistent forwards all season long so I think it's coming I think that they they know that there's something there they like playing with each other. And I believe -- to even get a lot better.

Dave congratulations on the two wins in Toronto congratulations on not the current hot streak of the team and we'll talk to you again soon.

Our guys thank you weren't we'll -- on the road somewhere.

I say thanks. Dave Lewis the head coach of the Boston Bruins