BRIGHTON The Bruins defensemen continue their offensive assault thats been a key part of the turnaround under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy, and they show no signs of slowing down.

Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo both scored goals in Bostons 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, and the Bs blueliners now have nine goals and 25 points in the 10 games since Cassidy replaced Claude Julien.

With the new coach came a more aggressive, attacking style that asks the D-men to step up and be part of a 4-man or 5-man attack offensively while consistently picking the right spots to step up and support in the offensive zone. Torey Krug has been at the top of the production list with a goal and nine points in the last 10 games, but even stay-at-home defenders like Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller have enjoyed an offensive moment in the sun as of late.

Offensively theyre doing what theyve been asked or within the parameters of our team allowed. We want them supporting the rush. Like [Brandon] Carlos example hes just up. Hes up the ice and has a good gap, [and its] nothing more than that. A bit of a lucky ending for us [on his goal], but still, hes there and Toreys [Krug] is a power play goal. We expect him to get his and I think we had a couple of other good looks, said Cassidy. We had a couple of those when you fight the puck and a guy blows an edge and [the opposition] gets a chance. So they can come back at you as well.

But overall, I think we have way more good than harm in those situations, at least from what Ive seen. So were going to continue with [the aggressive activating of the defense] because I think it makes you a tougher team to defend if youre doing it within reason. Theyre not reluctant now. Listen, every player, whether youre a defensive defenseman, at some point probably was a kid growing up that scored or created some offense in juniors and sometimes you have to change roles. I think they enjoy it. We build it into our practice and I think thats where it starts. If you build it into your practice, it becomes a habit and then you reinforce it during games whether its verbally or [with video].

Certainly its been a change for the Bruins defensemen corps when it comes to quick decision-making and changing ones offensive mindset, but its also been highly enjoyable to go on the attack and put pressure on another defense for a change. The Bruins havent paid too much of a price as of yet while allowing two goals per game over those last ten games. Butthe Bs defenders know that its a delicate balance they must always strike.

You always want to be able to use the talents youve been blessed with and your instincts, and you want to use it to the best of your ability. So youve got to make sure that the coaches can trust you to put you in every situation, said Krug. But its nice to be able to play and youve just got to stay focused.

"Ive been approaching it the same way with Bruce [Cassidy]. He obviously thinks the game very similar to myself and hes made a couple changes that allows us to play instinctively and assertive and I think that helps everybody.

Activating the defense more frequently has helped the individual defensive players while allowing them to play more in the offensive zone, and its helped a Bruins team with a plus-16 goal differential since the good times started rolling 10 games ago.

BRIGHTON, Mass AdamMcQuaid estimated it took about 20 stitches to close up the slice in his neck from David Backes skate blade, and thanks the big guy upstairs for avoiding what could have been a very serious injury fromSaturdaynights game. McQuaid caught the blade to the side of his neck in the closing minutes of the third period in Bostons 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devilson Saturdaynight, and even finished out his shift despite losing his stick and glove immediately after contact with the razor sharp skate blade.

The Bruins stay-at-home D-man missedSundayafternoons practice at Warrior Ice Arena mere hours after getting stitched up, but has been cleared to playon Mondaynight in a big game vs. the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.

It was a close call, and you cant help but thank God that it wasnt a scary situation, said McQuaid. Im going to have to count [the stitches] because Im getting asked a lot, but its somewhere around 20 or 25. I think I should be good to go [against the Senators] barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Initially when I didnt see any blood I figured that I was okay. They didnt blow the whistle and [play] was still going on in an obviously important part of the game. I was pretty helpless without my stick, but I was just trying to be a body getting in the way.

McQuaid said he didnt know the severity of the cut until Colin Miller mentioned something to him while sitting next to him on the Bruins bench, and thats when he was taken to the Bs dressing room for the emergency Dr. Frankenstein stitch work. It remains to be seen if McQuaid will don any protective equipment to protect the wound while playingon Mondaynight, but its a testament to how tough a hockey player he is that hell be back out there for regular duty after a close call to a potentially dangerous situation.

Here are the line combos and D-pairings fromSundayspractice with McQuaid expected to jump back in for John-Michael Liles against the Senators:

Marchand-Bergeron-Backes

Cehlarik-Krejci-Pastrnak

Vatrano-Spooner-Stafford/Hayes

Beleskey/Schaller-Moore-Nash

Chara-Carlo

Krug-K. Miller

C. Miller-Liles

Morrow

Rask

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