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Boston Bruins: Why The Perfection Line needs to be perfect

By Scott Edwards

COLUMBUS, OH - MAY 2: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his first period goal with teammates Patrice Bergeron #37 and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 2, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MAY 2: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his first period goal with teammates Patrice Bergeron #37 and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 2, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Success. Success for the Boston Bruins runs through the line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, also known as the ‘Perfection Line’.

Right now, the Boston Bruins simply need them to live that nickname once again and be perfect for the Bruins to get a win in Game 5 and move to 3-2 in the series. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak need to prove they can score on the St. Louis Blues at even-strength, simply put.

A name given to the line that so many see as the best line in hockey today has put gaudy expectations on the three stars for the team, but they usually deliver. This line carries much of the fame and blame in wins or losses. Their performances in the Stanley Cup Final so far has hurt them in a major way, except for their most dominant game in Game 3.

The plus/minuses on the three all sit in the negative, with David Pastrnak sitting at a lowly -4, Patrice Bergeron with a -3 and Brad Marchand with a -3, as well. While plus/minus by no means should be the end all be all of how a player is performing, it says a lot of how much this line must bounce back in hopes of securing a Game 5 victory. Perfection is difficult for any player, but as Boston Bruins fans, we know they can find that.

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There isn’t a line in the current hockey landscape today that means more to their team. The line led by Patrice Bergeron has to come out hot in their first shift to establish the pace of play. David Pastrnak has been so up and down all playoffs long, looking injured at times, especially early on.

Brad Marchand looked like the best player on the ice for most of the first three rounds.

However, he has burned the Boston Bruins multiple times in this series, especially in Game 2 when his carelessness led to the game tying goal for the Blues that allowed them to win the game. Without a big-time performance by their leading scorer and the rest of the ‘Perfection Line’, the Boston Bruins will be looking at a 3-2 deficit in the series going back to St. Louis.

The dominance needed is at even-strength more than anything else by these three. All ice-time these three play needs to be perfect, but most importantly it has to come at even-strength.

The power-play must be alive once again and of course the duo of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand find themselves on the penalty-kill too. The special teams haven’t really been the problem and hopefully the officiating is due a swing towards the Boston Bruins by now.

Next. Where has Jake DeBrusk gone this series?. dark

If the first line can fire on all cylinders tonight, they will go to up a game in this series with a chance to clinch in St. Louis.

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