3 reasons why the Bruins are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
1. Ability to roll out four effective forward lines
Going into the trade deadline, the Bruins were one of the worst teams when it came to 5-on-5 offense. A major reason for this issue was the team’s inability to put four effective lines on the ice.
Outside the first line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, the B’s didn’t have any line that could drive and create offense at 5-on-5.
In an attempt to fix this, Cassidy tried to switch Craig Smith and Pasta, putting Smith on the first line and Pasta on the second. However, this didn’t work. While this got Smith going, Pastrnak struggled. It was clear that the Black and Gold needed another play-driver more than an actual goal-scorer.
While Pasta is an elite goal-scorer, he isn’t known for the his ability to drive the play. He’s more of a passenger guy that knows how to get open and is in the right spot at the right time. Marchand and Bergeron are the ones that drive the play on that line, hence why Smith was able to get hot while playing with them.
This is why new addition Taylor Hall is so vital to the team’s success. While he has the ability to score, he also has the ability to drive the play with his skating and playmaking ability. This is what this team has been lacking outside the first line.
Boston Bruins
The addition of Hall has relieved an enormous amount of pressure off the shoulders of Marchy, Bergy, and Pasta while also giving David Krejci a winger who can score and drive the play.
Since adding Hall, Krejci has scored three goals (two last game), to bring his season goal total up from two to five, and has recored two assists. So he has five points in four games with Hall. Smith has also remained hot since Hall has come over, scoring two goals and three assists for five points in four games.
Hall isn’t the only reason why Boston can now role out four effective lines, however. Curtis Lazar has had a much bigger impact to this team than expected.
Lazar was placed at fourth line center, with Sean Kuraly moving over to left wing. With these moves, the B’s fourth line is playing its best hockey since the beginning of the season. Kuraly and Wagner both look rejuvenated and Lazar has been playing with energy and tenacity.
This move also gives the Black and Gold depth for the bottom six. If Kuraly starts to play poorly or is injured, he can be replaced with Trent Frederic. If this happens to Wagner, he can be replaced with Karson Kuhlman who was playing well before the deadline. If Ondrej Kase is able to return this season, he may also be an option to play in the bottom six.
A fully healthy Bruins’ forward corps could look like this:
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Hall – Krejci – Smith
Ritchie – Coyle – DeBrusk
Kuraly – Lazar – Kase
Extras: Frederic, Kuhlman, Wagner
This is truly a much improve and deeper group than before the deadline. You now have two lines that can be relied on to score, with a large third line that can play physical and has potential to score and create offense.
If the fourth line can keep playing as well as they are now, they are also a threat to wear down and score on the opposition.
What was once a lethargic group outside the top line, is now a deep group that seems to be able to score on command thanks to the additions of Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar. Lack of scoring depth was a big reason why the B’s were unable to make a deep playoff run last season, this new seems fixed and to be a strength.