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  • Player of the Week: February 9th-15th

    Bruins Daily Player of the Week

    Player of the Week: February 9th-15th

    Chris Chirichiello February 16, 2015
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    One Bruin who has contributed on a consistent basis all season long has been third-line winger Chris Kelly. He is not your household name and top six forward, but the 34 year-old does everything well.

    In two Bruins losses last week to the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, Kelly still lit the lamp and had an assist and a plus-2 rating while the Black and Gold allowed 10 goals in two games. That’s quite the stat despite the amount of goals Claude Julien’s team allowed.

    This season, Kelly has seven goals and 18 assists while posting a plus-10. The trio of Kelly, Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson have performed most consistently all season long amidst the ups and downs throughout the year and there have been a lot.

    Over his last 13 games, the alternate captain has three goals and four assists. He plays crucial minutes on the penalty kill, including a game against the Islanders earlier this month where he dove in front of a Johnny Boychuk slap shot as time was expiring in regulation to help secure the B’s lone victory of February so far.

    As commitment and effort have been questioned during the B’s three-game losing streak, Kelly is never an issue. He is always putting his stick in passing lanes, racing to the puck, dropping the gloves if he needs to and getting pucks in deep. He is appreciated in the locker room because of his effort all the time.

    When the B’s trailed 3-1 to the Canucks Friday night, it was Kelly who fired a shot top corner to beat Ryan Miller to cut the Canuck’s lead in half, but minutes later the defense had another mental lapse resulting in a goal eventually resulting in their 5-2 loss.

    On Boston.com: Defensive breakdowns, lack of urgency, cost Bruins in loss to Canucks

    Kelly has appeared in all of two games this season, has two game-winning goals, one short-handed goal, 75 shots on net while ranking seventh on the team in assists. His plus-10 rating ranks second on the Black and Gold behind only Kevan Miller’s plus-19.

    Kelly’s salary cap hit has always been looked at as a negative for the team, but at $3.5 million this season, it’s tough to argue with his production as a third-line winger. His other seasons in a B’s uniform is a different story.

    With the B’s in another one of their mini slumps, it is up to one line to take charge and it has been Kelly’s unit that has done the most damage when the team has their backs against the wall.

    Given how the B’s star players are underperforming, Julien and company are hoping that Kelly can produce some points in the four games left on this road trip, which continues tonight against the Calgary Flames.

    Relive what Kelly and the Bruins had to say about the team’s effort following Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Canucks

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