BOSTON -- Cody McCormick, meet Johnny Boychuk. You would assume that will happen in the first five minutes of Game Four. McCormick, a tough guy who had 17 goals this year in Portland, will make his Sabres debut tonight. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder will be a badly needed physical presence for a Buffalo team that has lost too many physical battles in this series (see Mark Recchi vs. Tim Kennedy in Game Three) and lost both Thomas Vanek and Matt Ellis on plays involving Boston's defenseman.
"It was a really nice surprise," McCormick said of the callup. "I'm a physical player. I want to finish my hits, get the puck in and be responsible out there. You don't want to run out of position to make a hit or anything like that. You definitely have to make sure you're thinking out there."
The Bruins certainly will be wary of McCormick. They know what he's here for and McCormick said that's fine.
"If that's what they're thinking, we can just keep hitting," he said. "We're going to be in the corners together so it's a good place to get some bangs in. I just want to come out, play physical, get the pucks in good spots, finish my hits and let them know I'm out there."
McCormick played four playoff games with Colorado in 2008 and he showed some skill and toughness in training camp with the Sabres this year.
"He's a big body that can get to the front of the net," said coach Lindy Ruff. "He can win battles down low. Without Hecht, without Vanek, without some bigger bodies, some of the battles have gone the other way. A big guy who will be able to win some battles will be important to us. He's thought very highly of by Portland."
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
tagged
Boston Bruins | Sabres | Stanley Cup
