"But a funny thing has happened. Mittelstadt has pushed back with some very good play, and in all three zones with his vastly improving second line with Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson. And on Saturday at the Garden, he earned third star honors by scoring a goal and assisting on Arvidsson's game-winner in the Bruins' 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes."
""I think I've said this to your guys before. I could sit and pout about it but what's that going to do for me?" said Mittelstadt. "I've wanted to be a hockey player my whole life so I feel very grateful too be able to do this and to wear this sweater. For me, there's really no time to pout. Just come in the next day and keep working hard. Things usually work out when the hard work is there.""
""It's one of the things Marco and I talked about when he took me out. I think there were times earlier in my career when I was struggling in Buffalo and (former coach) Donnie Granato would put me on the wing and I felt like it really helped me find my game again. I'm very comfortable along the walls. I think I'm good along the walls. It gives me some confidence throughout the whole rink.""
Mittelstadt faced a healthy scratch on Oct. 19 in Utah and significant criticism, then responded by elevating his play across all three zones. He formed an effective second line with Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson and earned third-star honors by scoring and assisting in a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Coach Marco Sturm expected a reaction from the scratch and noted Mittelstadt showed one. A move from center to wing, with Zacha taking the pivot, helped Mittelstadt regain confidence, improved his wall play, and echoed a similar, beneficial position change from earlier in his career in Buffalo.
Read at Boston Herald
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