Matt Beleskey’s afternoon opened with a thump. The little-used Bruins left winger, scratched for five of the previous six games, was only seconds into his first shift Saturday when he put a body slam on Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
A mere dozen seconds later, at the opposite end of the ice, Beleskey put a beating on Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning, each of them sent off for fighting. This was the Beleskey the Bruins thought they were signing when they wooed him to Boston with $19 million as a free agent in the summer of 2015.
“I think I’m a player that should be able to stay in the lineup,’’ said Beleskey, who has provided minimal offensive production (2-5—7 in 37 games), the reason he hasn’t been able to stay in the lineup. “They made a commitment to me and I’ve made a commitment to the city of Boston to be who I am, and who I was, and that’s what I’m going to try to do.’’
The biggest difference in Beleskey’s game, beyond his physical engagement, was his skating. He was finally moving his legs. The added zip had him landing smacks (four hits total) and getting legit scoring looks around net. With 8:43 to go in regulation, he nearly potted the winner with a doorstep chance, the left side of the net open.
Perhaps the waiting and the off-ice work has Beleskey positioned for a season-saving late push.
“I haven’t been resting,’’ said the left winger, who sustained a significant knee injury at the start of December. “I have been working out twice a day with our strength coaches, doing the extra work, putting in the time with the skills coach. It’s hard work. It hasn’t been my year. But the coaches put some faith in me, gave me some time, worked me over, and I’m just trying to make it pay off.’’
Pastrnak wants in
Add young Bruins winger David Pastrnak to the chorus of NHL players displeased over the growing belief that the league won’t release its best and brightest for next February’s Olympic Games in South Korea.
Pastrnak, 20, is in his third NHL season and would be a top candidate to play for the Czech Republic. He noted prior to the game against the Flyers that, like many European players, he grew up far more intrigued by an Olympic gold medal than a Stanley Cup championship.
“I don’t think there’s any European player that wouldn’t want to play for his country in the Olympics,’’ said Pastrnak, whose goal on Saturday extended his season-best scoring streak to eight games (3-7—10). “Especially for me, it’s one of the dreams, to play in the Olympics and represent your country. I would be disappointed.’’
Reporter to Pastrnak: “A lot of European kids grow up thinking more of the Olympics than the Stanley Cup . . . were you one of those kids?’’
“Yes . . . 100 percent,’’ he said.
Pastrnak then broke into a wide grin, seeming to recognize that he was standing in Boston, about to pull on his Black and Gold sweater to play the Philadelphia Flyers.
Reporter to Pastrnak: “Have you changed?’’
“Yes,’’ said Pastrnak, his grin growing even wider.
Closing in
Brad Marchand, a blistering 10-16—26 in the last 18 games, has scored three shorthanders this season, increasing his career total to 22.
By the time he calls it quits on Causeway, the L’il Ball o’ Hate will own the club record for shorties. Ahead of him: Rick Middleton (25) and Derek Sanderson (24).
Since 2009-10, the year he entered the league, Marchand has led the league in the man-down category.
Old-time hockey
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who will turn 52 in May, grew up in Ottawa as an unabashed Bruins fan. The picture of Bobby Orr’s winning Cup goal in 1970 — clipped from the Ottawa Citizen — hung on his bedroom wall for years.
Prior to his Bruins taking on the Flyers, it was easy for Cassidy to remember the days when a Boston-Philly matchup meant sticks and gloves littered all over the Garden ice, the penalty boxes full of warring opponents.
“Oh, yeah,’’ he recalled. “[Dave] Schultz vs. [Terry] O’Reilly and [Don] Saleski vs. Stan Jonathan . . . pick your guys. The guy I didn’t like was [Flyers goalie] Bernie Parent. He kind of stoned us two years in a row. But anyway, he’s long gone . . . thank God.’’
Parent, now 71, played on the Niagara Falls Flyers with Sanderson and turned pro with the Bruins in 1965-66, then was lost in the expansion draft to Philly, where he became a Hall of Famer.
“He was a Bruin originally, if I’m not mistaken,’’ said Cassidy, showing a tremendous capacity for Bruins lore, no matter how painful.
Spooner skates
Ryan Spooner, out with a concussion, skated on his own in the morning at the Garden and will be on the flight Sunday to Vancouver . . . Tim Schaller, who banged heavily and feet-first into the end boards Wednesday vs. the Red Wings, remained out of the lineup. It’s possible he won’t be on the upcoming trip, which also has stops in Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.
