After Long Offseason, Bjork Finding A Groove

BOSTON - Anders Bjork didn't have the easiest of rookie seasons.
A concussion and subsequent shoulder injury disrupted what began as a promising inaugural campaign for the former University of Notre Dame standout.

But despite playing in just 30 games last season, Bjork feels that his turbulent first year in Black & Gold gave him some needed perspective and provided plenty of lessons in how to be a professional hockey player.
"I think I learned a lot," said Bjork. "I tried to - especially after I got injured - soak in as much as I can because so much of the game is mental, you know, and it's an emotional one, too.
"I think you really have to have a good head on your shoulders coming in and understand there will be ups and downs…from the mental side, I really focused on being strong and confident and understand that you're going to have to roll with the ups and downs and try to just learn how to be consistent every week."

After a solid first few weeks, the speedy winger received his introduction to the rigors of the National Hockey League in November, when a vicious open-ice hit courtesy of Toronto's Matt Martin sidelined him for roughly a month with a concussion.
Upon his return, the Wisconsin native notched just one goal over 12 games in December, leading to an assignment to Providence. Bjork played in nine contests for the P-Bruins before he was summoned back up I-95. But just four shifts into his second game back with the big club, Bjork's inaugural campaign came to end after an awkward collision with Anaheim's Francois Beauchemin, which left him with a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.
It was the first major injury of Bjork's young career, producing a newfound adversity that required him to lean on those closest to him.
"I mean, my family was huge," said Bjork. "After an injury it's tough. I never was injured before, so that was hard for sure. My family, their support was incredible. My friends back home, they were really there for me this summer. I just had so much support. It was great.
"And even my teammates here. Guys that have been through injuries all came up to me, and that was cool. It was really cool to see. I tried to take their advice and especially the older guys who have been through it.
"I think they had some really good things to say. I learned what they did in the offseason and tried to do that as well."
In addition to his rehab, Bjork focused heavily on his strength on the puck, which has been evident over the season's first two weeks. After sitting as a healthy scratch on Opening Night in Washington, the 22-year-old returned to the lineup in Buffalo and has since played in all four games, mostly as the third-line right wing.
Bjork's hard work was rewarded on Saturday afternoon when he notched his first goal of the season - as well as his first assist - in the Bruins' 8-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. It was Bjork's first goal since Dec. 7, 2017.
"It feels good. It's been a while," said Bjork. "It's always nice to produce offensively and I think it was good for our line. Even though it was the sixth goal of the game, I think it was nice. It felt good."

The tally was also a confidence booster for the Bruins' third line, which had been held scoreless through the first four games of the season. With Ryan Donato subbing in for Danton Heinen and David Backes playing the middle, Bjork converted an odd-man rush midway through the third period to extend Boston's lead to 6-2.
A strong play by Backes in the neutral zone to pick the pocket of Detroit forward Fran Nielsen freed the puck to Bjork, who surged down the right wing and appeared to be leaning pass before ripping one by the blocker of Jonathan Bernier.
"Hopefully it's big for our line there, too," said Bjork. "I think that was our first five-on-five goal, so I think we can get things going here a bit…it's kind of something that you're thinking about and once you get the first one…we can relax a little bit, and then just be hungry to get more."
Bjork entered the game against Detroit intent on shooting more. Through his first three games of the season, he had landed only two shots on goal, and against Edmonton passed up a strong opportunity in favor of a backwards pass that led to a turnover.
"Having a shot-first mentality opens up plays, especially the passes [that] open up when the D think you're shooting," sad Bjork, who had two shots on goal in the win over the Red Wings. "So you see like [David] Pastrnak does that all the time. A bunch of guys on our team do….I'm trying to be like that a little bit and take the puck to the net because it creates more angles to yourself and it gets your teammates open as well.
"When you have your shot you've got to take it. I think that's something that I struggled with last year and hopefully I'm improving on."
Overall, coach Bruce Cassidy has been pleased with the Bjork's progression in the early going, a development he didn't necessarily foresee over the summer.
"It's good for him because it's been a long time coming," said Cassidy. "He's worked to be in the lineup. We didn't talk a lot about him in August. We weren't sure when he'd get in and he's kind of pushed himself in the lineup, it's that simple. That's why you don't pick your team in July sometimes. You let it develop.
"I think he's done a good job of being heavier on pucks. His goal started with a puck battle on the wall that he hung in on, him and Backs, and they got it out and off they go. So, good for him.
"Even the [assist] late. I mean, it's a nothing goal, but for him it's important to be able to hang onto pucks below the goal line and make a play with it, a strong play. I think he should be real satisfied with his game."