The Bruins have been searching for consistency from their third line for quite some time now. A seemingly revolving door of centers and wingers has made up the Bruins third line for the better part of three seasons now.
But finally, after many different pieces to the puzzles, the Bruins have found themselves a third line and it’s one that has been led by Charlie Coyle.
"I think consistently playing together, that helps,… Coyle said about the lines chemistry. “You get to know your linemates tendencies, you learn more about them and their routes and how they play, where they like to go, that helps.…
The line of Craig Smith, Coyle and Trent Frederic combined for the Bruins three goals in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, continuing the trend of red-hot play from the trio.
In the 143:10 of five-on-five ice time Frederic, Coyle and Smith have skated in together this season, the Bruins have outscored opponents 9-1.
“I think they’re playing to the identity of how they need to play to score on a regular basis which is typically playing behind the [defense], winning pucks, getting pucks back, good forecheck, in sync together in the o-zone with their spacing,… head coach Bruce Cassidy said.
“They’re scoring a lot of goals like that and then they’ve capitalized on the rush by not over thinking it.…
While pucks are going in the net in bunches for the line, they’re doing more than scoring goals.
Little things like winning puck battles along the boards, and keeping the puck in deep, allowing the Bruins to get fresh legs on the ice before their opponents do goes a long way.
The trio is doing that as well.
“Away from the puck, I think they’ve been very reliable with their board work. Even the last couple of minutes, [Frederic] stays on to make sure they have to regroup so we get fresh legs,… said Cassidy.
“He doesn’t just throw a puck away when he has it in the o-zone, he puts it in with purpose. They’re doing a lot of smart things and as a coach, you’re going to play them against anybody so they get opportunities.…
After the Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Smith’s pair of goals,—his sixth and seventh goals in his last five games—the Bruins allowed the Coyotes to get back into the game, taking a 2-2 contest into the final minutes of the game.
But Coyle and the Bruins were able to capitalize on a two-on-one late in the third. Instead of dishing the puck off to Smith who was gliding to his right, Coyle perfectly placed a backhander over the shoulder of Coyotes’ goalie Karel Vejmelka.
“There’s not a lot of times where I think shot, but I should. It’s a tie game, you want to make the appropriate play with what’s given,… Coyle said.
“On the other hand, Smitty’s got two goals, right? But you’ve got to play hockey. I wanted to take it to the net and create a rebound if anything. Got a little lucky with the placement.…
With their win, the Bruins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 and have won 18 in a row against the Coyotes.