Three games into the season and the Bruins are still trying to figure things out on their second, third and fourth lines.
As they continue to do so, the one constant has been the trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. It’s the Bruins best line and arguably the best in all of the National Hockey League.
Through three games, the line has combined for seven goals and 11 assists, having a factor in all but one of the Bruins 10 goals scored this season.
In Monday’s home opener against the Ottawa Senators, it was once again the Bergeron line and Bergeron himself paving the way for the Bruins. Bergeron’s fourth career hat trick pushed the Bruins past the Ottawa Senators 6-3.
It was the third straight game where the bottom six had a different look to it.
David Backes centered Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork on the third line, while Chris Wagner and Noel Acciari played to the left and right respectively of Sean Kuraly on the fourth line.
As head coach Bruce Cassidy continues to try and find the right set of lines behind the Bergeron line, he likes what he saw from his fourth line Monday afternoon.
The fourth line was solid in their win over the Senators at TD Garden. Wagner tipped home a shot from Charlie McAvoy for his first goal as a Bruin and the line combined for five shots on goal, led by three from Acciari.
Cassidy likes what each guy brings to the table and attributed some of the line's success to what playing on the wing can do for Acciari who has played the center position in each of the Bruins previous two games.
“They looked very good. See that’s the thing, when Noel [Acciari] goes to the wing I find he’s freed up to be more physical, be on top of pucks. When you’re a centreman you have to be a little more responsible, so that’s the difference. I like him as a centreman. He knows what he’s doing in his own end, makes good reads, good stick, willing to block shots, but when he’s on the wing I find he’s freed up a little more,… Cassidy said.
“Sean’s [Kuraly] more comfortable with that line obviously he played with them for a full year, so we talked to him [about] moving into a third-line role a little more offensive. But right now that’s his comfort level. Let him get some games under his belt. Maybe as the season goes on we’ll take another look at it."
It was also a different look for Backes who played center on Monday after two games on the right wing. It’s been three games and three different linemates for Backes. Other than the difference in responsibilities when playing center versus the wing, chemistry is really the only thing that has changed on the ice for Backes from a game-to-game standpoint.
“It does, in just more of the chemistry you have with your linemates, and I’ve said to have automatics, or to at least have an inclination of where the guy is going to be on certain plays certainly helps you play the game faster and be more predictable to each other,… said Backes. “That doesn’t help having new linemates every game, but it’s the situation you’re in.…
Cassidy also liked having Backes in the middle and admitted that Backes at center will be the plan moving forward.
"I kind of like Backs [David Backes] in the middle. I think [Anders] Bjork had his legs under him tonight. Anders just has to learn how to manage the puck, when to make plays, when not to hang onto it because he’s got it a lot. And it’s just for him to figure out, okay if I do give it up in this league it’s tough to get it back, so we’d like him to possess it even more. I liked his speed," said Cassidy. "Danton’s [Heinen] game was coming. He was very responsible, so I thought that line worked out well for us. David can only speak to how he liked being in the middle of the ice. It’s one game, but certainly that’ll be the plan going forward unless something changes in the next few days."
I wasn’t too impressed with the second line in this one. I thought they were lackluster at best and often spent too much time in their own zone. The second line was on the ice for two of the three Senators goals and had it not been for a few big saves from Tuukka Rask, they could have been out there for a few more.
The Bruins have their first line set in stone, and it sounds like Cassidy is going to stick with Wagner, Kuraly and Acciari on the fourth line. Now it’s time for the second and third lines to come into form and start to build some chemistry.
Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci are not going anywhere on the second line, but their right side continues to be an issue. Danton Heinen failed in that role against the Capitals and Ryan Donato hasn’t quite shown much chemistry with DeBrusk and Krejci in Thursday's win over the Sabres and now Monday against the Senators.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Bjork on that line Thursday night when the Edmonton Oilers come to town.
In an attempt to balance the scoring and create more depth behind the first line, moving David Pastrnak off the top line remains an option. But with how good the three play together, it’s a difficult trigger to pull. But the Bruins need to figure out how to spread the scoring out and if the other lines can’t get it going, Cassidy’s hands may be forced.
Doing this was talked about during the summer and the question was brought back up again on Monday.
Well, you could look at it both ways. Again, we’re top heavy, right?," said Cassidy
"And that’s where the conversation started last year that we relied on one line. We know we can always do that. We haven’t yet, and we may never. We’ll see down the road. So, a game like this, like I said, on both sides you argue hey they’re too good to break up, yet we relied on them too much maybe tonight and we need more balanced scoring from lines two and three, so right now we’re going to leave it as is and see how it plays out."