The Boston Bruins have lost three games in a row. All that after enjoying an eight-game winning streak. In all of the three losses, the Bruins played without Connor Clifton. Coincidence, or not?
Last Thursday, the Boston Bruins welcomed defenseman John Moore back. The 28-year-old veteran entered the lineup in a position of Connor Clifton. The whole sequence didn’t make much sense at first glance, mainly because a left-shot blueliner was given the nod at the expense of a right-shot defenseman.
At second glance, it was a logical outing for the Bruins. Moore returned to the full-healthy mode for the first time in nearly six months, and the Bruins needed him back. Scratching Connor Clifton was a reasonable short-time decision.
However, it’s just that: a short-time decision. Now the Bruins feel the urgency to slot speedy defenseman in Clifton back to their lineup, especially as he is now not a player that can be waived.
Moore has done nothing wrong in his three starts in particular. He posted a CF% of 61.54 and an xGF of 60.54. That’s definitely not inadequate by any means. But the Bruins missed something on their blue line in the three-game losing skid.
The solid overall play accompanied by the physicality of Clifton is for sure missing for the Bruins. The third pair of Moore playing and Matt Grzelcyk being forced to skate on his off-side doesn’t generate what the Bruins need.
If the Bruins are looking to make one obvious lineup change to spark them ahead of the tough back-to-back situation against Washington and Tampa Bay on the road, it’s slotting Connor Clifton back into the lineup. Clifton can go in for Moore or even Grzelcyk.
Moore’s emotional return doesn’t have to be spoiled; he worked incredibly hard to make his way back. Forcing Grzelcyk to play on his off-side (which unmistakably didn’t help him in Ottawa’s opening goal on Monday, for example) was the price to pay for Moore.
However, this is a no-go in the long-term. Clifton should be back in his usual spot on the right side on the third defense pairing.