The fourth line remained the same from Monday’s loss to the Senators, with Matt Poitras centering Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic. Sean Kuraly was again the spare forward.
Though Sturm wouldn’t fully commit to the changes for Thursday’s home game against the Mammoth, it’s likely he will at least start with them after investing an entire practice with the makeover.
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“I want to change a little bit, but we’ll see. Tried something today,” said Sturm. “We’ll see tomorrow when we wake up and meet again with the coaching staff and see if we like it or not and go from there.”
Sturm believes in consistency but acknowledged that with a shorter training camp schedule — the first practice was just three weeks ago — and several new faces in the lineup, it’s been challenging finding clicking combinations. He warned, however, that it’s too early to be jumping to too many conclusions.
“I also looked back a year ago, we talked [a lot] about the [consistency of the] Zacha line with [Viktor] Arvidsson and Mittelstadt. That was not after [one] game. [It was after] eight or nine [when they clicked],” said Sturm. “So, we’ve still got time to try things out. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s hopefully with that short training camp, hopefully in the next little while it’s going to play out and hopefully there’s some lines or pairs who are going to come up and shine and will be good for our hockey team because we need it. We’re just, like everyone else, we’re just trying to figure it out right now and see how it goes.”
Zacha has moved around plenty during his time in Boston. From wing to center and from line to line. He has plenty of minutes with Pastrnak and said, “We know where we are on the ice, we know how to play together.”
That history should make for an easy transition.
“I’m lucky I’ve been able to play with most of the guys, most of the wingers … I think we have a great winger group, so whoever you get as a center there to play with, it’s great,” said Zacha. “We just have to find chemistry in a way that [will help us] be more connected on the ice.”
Zacha, who is coming off a season in which he had career highs in goals (30) and points (65), has been snakebitten this season. He’s created chances and gotten some good looks but has yet to collect a point.
He said it’s important not to put added pressure on yourself when the puck isn’t going in.
“I think if you see we score only two goals in four games, you want to be that guy to help the team,” said Zacha. “But on the other hand, it’s still the start of the season. I’ve played in the league for a while, so I know there’s ups and downs with points. It’s just all you can control a little bit. If you play good, if you create chances, it’s going to come eventually. Every season has ups and downs a little bit with points. And I just need to find a way to keep creating and not get frustrated with it.”
One of the more intriguing changes is Hagens swapping from left wing to right. Sturm was hoping it will open up some shooting space for the rookie.
“With him, he ends up for some reason on that side. Anyway, even when I watched him at Boston College, as a centerman or when he played left wing, I feel like he likes that right side anyway,” said Sturm. “Maybe on the right side it gives him a better opportunity to shoot more pucks.”
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Rookie defenseman Frederic Brunet worked as the quarterback on the top power-play unit. Boston is 0 for 10 with the man advantage. “We tried Bruno out the last game a little bit and he was fine,” said Sturm. “It’s just when the power play is struggling, most of the time you want to try something different, and he was good. So, he is going to get some action [against Utah] and we’ll see how he does.” Brunet received some pointers from Charlie McAvoy, who will assume that role next week in San Jose … Peterka, who played for the Mammoth last season, led the pre- and post-practice stretches.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.