The Boston Bruins are off to a troublesome begin. They’ve simply 4 wins by ten video games and a negative-7 objective differential. They’ve struggled at each ends of the ice up to now, however their lack of offense has been significantly regarding, as they’ve been shut out twice of their final 4 video games.
This could come as a shock. Regardless of shedding Jake DeBrusk final offseason, they added Elias Lindholm and are nonetheless loaded with offensive weapons like David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. With this in thoughts, it’s no shock that head coach Jim Montgomery selected to jumble up his line combos in follow on Wednesday (Oct. 30). Under is how the forwards took the ice:
- Beecher – Zacha – Pastrnak
- Marchand – Lindholm – Kastelic
- Jones – Coyle – Koepke
- Frederic – Poitras – Geekie
Bruins’ Fourth Liners Transfer Up
The Bruins’ fourth line has been a lonely vibrant spot of the season up to now. Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, and Cole Koepke have six, six, and 7 factors, respectively. Koepke’s seven factors are second to Pastrnak, whille Beecher and Kastelic’s six apiece are tied with Marchand for third on the staff. These three additionally lead the staff in plus/minus, with a plus-7 or higher. Nikita Zadorov is the one different participant who’s constructive in that statistic. In all, every member of the fourth line has confirmed they deserve a shot at extra taking part in time and that they are often significant contributors down the road.
It might not come as an enormous shock that Montgomery selected to disperse his top-performing backside line. Beecher has been a fourth-line mainstay throughout his time within the NHL. He’ll now be getting his shot on the highest line, taking part in alongside Pavel Zacha, who will likely be shifting to the top-line heart place from his spot on the top-line left wing, and Pastrnak. Kastelic, who had been centering that fourth line, was moved as much as the second line to play on the fitting facet subsequent to the demoted Lindholm and Marchand. Koepke, lastly, was moved to the fitting wing on the third line with Charlie Coyle and Max Jones.
Associated: Bruins Want Coyle & Frederic to Step Up
Montgomery’s fourth line had performed effectively collectively up to now within the season, and he’s hoping that the arrogance of these three gamers will permeate all through the lineup. Kastelic and Beecher needs to be thrilled about their alternative to play within the high six and doubtlessly make a good greater affect.
Lindholm Demoted
The opposite transfer that jumps off the web page is Lindholm’s demotion to the second line. The Bruins handed Lindholm a seven-year deal carrying a mean annual worth of $7.75 million this previous offseason. The Bruins had been excited concerning the arrival of a middle they believed could possibly be a star alongside Pastrnak and Zacha. Whereas it’s extremely unlikely that now we have seen the final of that group taking part in collectively on the Bruins’ high line, this demotion ought to come as a disappointment. Lindholm began the season sizzling, placing up 5 factors in his first three video games with the black and gold, however he has since cooled off with no single level within the staff’s final seven video games.
Wanting Forward
The injection of fourth liners into the Bruins’ high 9 ought to energize the staff’s offensive output. That line has been robust on the forecheck the whole season and has performed with an urgency that bodes effectively for them of their new roles. If the Bruins’ high six hopes to choose issues up, nevertheless, they are going to want extra out of Lindholm going ahead. They’ll have the possibility to check their new strains towards the Carolina Hurricanes throughout a Halloween night time matchup in Raleigh.
