By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
What a 48 hours this weekend must have been for Fabian Lysell and the Boston Bruins faithful. The former first-round pick woke up Saturday morning expecting to suit up for the team’s AHL affiliate when he got the call that he was coming to Boston.
Lysell donned the spoked-B for the first time Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco slotted him on the third line alongside Trent Frederic and former Providence linemate Justin Brazeau.
Boston’s most talked about prospect had been playing some of his best hockey of the season when Don Sweeney came calling. The Swedish winger posted 2-5-7 over his last six games AHL games and was promoted just one day after registering a goal and two assists in the team’s 4-1 win over the Bridgeport Islanders.
The game almost got off to a storybook start for the rookie as his line scored the game’s first goal when Brazeau poked home a rebound of a Brandon Carlo point shot to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Lysell was initially given a primary assist on the play as it looked like he forced the puck in Brazeau’s direction, but the NHL’s scoring department decided otherwise, and his first NHL point was taken off the board.
Lysell finished the game with a plus-one rating while receiving 11:32 of ice time. Although he wasn’t credited with an assist, he factored heavily into Boston’s opening goal and played a solid game overall. That’s why it was so surprising when the Bruins announced late Sunday afternoon that Laysell was being returned to Providence. Many speculated it could be a paper transaction to preserve cap space, but that notion was shattered once Mark Divver reported that Lysell was on the ice for Providence’s morning skate.
The Bruins returned to Warrior Ice Arena this morning to practice before jettisoning to Washington for a New Year’s Eve matinee against the Capitals. After practice, Joe Sacco spoke with the media and shed some light on Lysell’s situation.
“The message (to Fabian) was basically that he didn’t hurt his chances for another opportunity at some point,” said Sacco following Monday morning’s practice. “(Lysell) played a good game and did some good things out there. It was an opportunity for him to get his first NHL game based on his play and based on merit. I think the message is to continue to work on your game; you did not hurt your chances for another opportunity up (with the Bruins) at some point.”
The most interesting part of the press conference came towards the end of Sacco’s answer, where he hinted that the door might be open for Lysell to return to the NHL very soon. “We’re going on a road trip, we’re playing against Washington; they have a little bit different of a lineup, so we’re going to go with a different lineup against them.”
After the NYE game in Washington, the Bruins will play two more road games against the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs before returning to TD Garden on January 5th to play the New York Islanders. If Lysell continues his hot streak in Providence, and Sacco’s words ring true, fans could see Lysell make his return to Boston soon. Only time will tell, but in my eyes, the youngster had a good first showing in the NHL.
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