Boston Bruins: Fourth Line Grinding Out Productive Shifts

Prior to Saturday night’s game at the TD Garden against the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy moved rookie Trent Frederic from the fourth line up to the third line. Moving down to the fourth line was a struggling Anders Bjork.

Bjork had seen time on the first line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, as well as time with Charlie Coyle and Craig Smith on the third line early in the season. It seemed where ever Cassidy moved Bjork, he was not getting the job done.

In what could be considered a “wake up call” to Bjork by being sent down with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner, the trio has worked out well together through the first two games.

Bruins fourth line brings the lumber to the Flyers and Penguins.

In Saturday’s 6-1 thrashing of the Flyers, the fourth line combined for five hits. They were putting pressure on the Philadelphia defense and creating chances.

Tuesday night in the Black and Gold’s 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the trio was effective from the drop of the puck. In the opening 20 minutes, they matched their hit total from Saturday’s game with five in the first period.

Bjork and Wagner each finished with three hits, mostly in the offensive end, and Kuraly had two. They also generated several scoring chances against the Pens. Kuraly and Wagner each had three shots on net.

The Bruins had what seemed like a parade of players going to the penalty box all night Tuesday. They were called for six penalties, which is dangerous against the talented Penguins. Boston successfully killed off each opportunity and even scored a shorthanded goal when Marchand tallied one in the first period.

Because the Bruins were shorthanded for 10:57 in ice time, Cassidy called on the fourth line and they did not disappoint. Wagner led the trio with three minutes and 52 seconds on the kill, while Kuraly was not far behind at 3:39 and Bjork just three seconds behind that at 3:36.

For two games, the fourth line has been effective for the Bruins when they’re called upon. A line that doesn’t get as much credit as maybe they should have come up with huge minutes in the last two games.