ST. LOUIS — The chants started low before building and echoing throughout the mostly empty Enterprise Center following the Bruins’ morning skate Thursday.
“Coooonnnnooor,” Bruins players serenaded Connor Clifton as the defenseman made his way to center ice for the post-skate stretch.
“You know what? Ever since the [team] Disneyland trip, there’s been a lot of [those chants],” said Clifton, noting that some of his teammates wore T-shirts that read “I [heart emoji] Connor” on that team-bonding outing. “I think it’s pretty catchy and the fellas love it. So, it’s good. It’s fun.”
“Cliffy Hockey” was back in the Boston lineup against the Blues, drawing in for rookie Frederic Brunet on the third pairing with Mason Lohrei.
It was Clifton’s first action since Oct. 10. He played in Boston’s first six games (averaging 20:38 of ice time) but was caught in a numbers game as Charlie McAvoy returned from suspension and the staff desired to get Brunet up to NHL speed.
“I think I played six good games,” Clifton said. “Obviously, we have eight really good D here, so it is what it is. I got to watch a little longer than I would’ve liked. But no, I just kind of want to pick up where I left off and play my game.”
Though eager to play, Clifton said he would guard against trying to do too much as players tend to when they’re out to make an impression.
“It’s a delicate balance, for sure. And I don’t think that’s my game. I think when I’m playing my best, I’m not thinking. I’m not holding on to the puck. I’m making that first pass. I’m in the face of the opposition. I’m breaking pucks out, I’m finishing hits, so that sort of thing,” he said. “I just kind of take it one shift at a time and you just want to play steady back there for [Jeremy Swayman], who’s been great for us. So yeah, definitely don’t want to do too much.”
Brunet taking a seat is just part of the growing process, said coach Marco Sturm.
Brunet had a costly turnover late in the first period in Tuesday’s loss to the Hurricanes and it led to the tying goal. That hiccup alone wasn’t the reason Brunet was out.
“I think it’s part of the process going with young players, and especially with Bruno. He’s done a really good job,” said Sturm. “What we noticed the last two, three games, he kind of got stuck a little bit and yeah, we just want to reset him. I think it’s going to be good for him. It’s just, again, it’s part of the process, and I believe in that. And also, we have a big roster, too. So, we have some other guys, they’re ready to go, and Cliffy’s one of them.”
Sturm said when informing Brunet of his decision, he made sure to express the confidence he has in his abilities.
“Everything is, first of all, it’s positive because he’s done such a good job and he will get better,” said the coach. “I mean, that’s the goal. And so yeah, we’re just going to explain why we did it or why I did it because again, it’s part of the process, but also, it’s absolutely normal. So, it will be good for him.”
***
Blues coach Jim Montgomery, who was behind the Boston bench for two-plus seasons of David Pastrnak’s career, was asked what teams did during that stretch — or since — to frustrate the All-Star right winger.
Montgomery acknowledged it’s no easy task and also revealed what he believes is an underrated element of Pastrnak’s game.
“I think he’s four years in a row with a hundred points. There’s not much people are doing to him to frustrate him,” said Montgomery. “He’s clever in the sense that what’s really underrated is how hard he competes. He competes night in, night out. He wants that puck, he wants to score goals, he wants to make plays, he wants to be a difference-maker, and he is.”
About the only times teams could flummox Pastrnak, by Montgomery’s recollection, was on the power play, but even then, it’s difficult.
“All I’ve seen that really frustrates him is if you stand on him on the PK, take him away as a shot-first guy, but now he’s the distributor on the power play,” said Montgomery. “He’s the one that makes it all happen. So, it’s a little harder to take him away on a power play when he’s the facilitator and the play driver, not just the recipient.”
***
Former Bruin Brandon Carlo is on St. Louis’s top defensive pairing with Philip Broberg ... Elias Lindholm entered Thursday with two goals and five points in his last five games ... Swayman made his third straight start. It’s likely Michael DiPietro gets the net for Saturday’s matinee against the Blackhawks.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.