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Charlie Coyle continues to drive Bruins third line |
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With a two goal lead late in the second period of Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, Charlie Coyle had himself one heck of a shift.
He, nor the Bruins scored on the shift, but for the 30 plus seconds the Bruins spent in the attacking zone,—mostly led by Coyle’s puck possession skills—you saw a glimpse of what makes the Bruins so dangerous in the offensive zone when the puck is on Coyle's stick.
"We just caught them, they were stuck out there. Whoever was out before us kind of made a good play to change, get fresh legs out there. We knew we had that advantage, tried not to force anything,” Coyle said of his eventful shift.
“But that’s my game, that’s when I’m feeling good, possessing the puck like that, winning battles. I think that’s what this team needs from me and I need to do that more often.”
During the Bruins six game win streak, Coyle has done just about everything right, picking up five points—3-2-5—during the win streak.
With injuries and inconsistencies from others playing a factor, Coyle has played all over the lineup. From second line center to second line right wing, back to his most comfortable fit as third line center, Coyle has produced wherever he’s been asked to play, and with whoever he's been asked to play with.
Now centering Sean Kuraly and Anders Bjork over the Bruins last three games, Coyle has found new success with two unique wingers.
“Well, I have to tell you, he’s really driving that line. Tonight, I thought he was exceptional with
the puck. Now, with Kuraly on the left, it’s a little bit different flavor than maybe a Danton Heinen. Bjorkie [Bjork] has added some speed on the right side as well, so you have some guys
who can really hunt pucks,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.
“So, he hangs on to it as much as he can, puts it to an area those guys can track it down for him, but he also knows they’re younger guys, so drive the line. I like that Charlie does that. I hope that’s his response that he wants to be the leader of that line.”
In 45:48 of five-on-five ice time together, Kuraly, Coyle and Bjork have combined for four goals while posting an expected goals for of 2.47.
With the more time spent together, the more you can see the chemistry continuing to develop between the three.
“It’s been feeling pretty good, I think me and Bjorkie have been together for a little bit, we’ve gotten to know each other and we talk a lot,” said Coyle. “Sean’s a pretty easy guy to read off of, he’s a pretty straight line guy. He’s got the speed too, I like playing with those guys who can go like that, and he works. He’s just a dog out there.”
Having Kuraly to his left has been a different dynamic for Coyle. Like Coyle, Kuraly is a natural centerman who of late, has had found success playing the wing. Because of their familiarity of the center position Kuraly and Coyle have similar mindsets on the ice. Because of that, it’s made adjusting to having Kuraly on his wing that much easier.
“Yeah, it’s nice. Especially a guy who can take faceoffs on the left side, the strong side. Little things like that. When we get on the ice, if he’s the first guy back, no problem being the low guy. I just fill in and play wing. We can interchange like that, so it really helps having a guy like that,” added Coyle.
Part of the comfort Coyle has playing with Kuraly comes from knowing that if he tends to be more aggressive, or take a chance in the o-zone, Kuraly has that center mentality to read the play and cover for Coyle.
“Especially o-zone too, you don’t feel like ‘I’m the center, I’ve got to be that third guy.’ I can just go in and play like a winger if I am first guy on and Sean’s good at reading, being that valve up there. That’s huge, you just play and we know we can cover each other. We’re capable of just reading and reacting and that’s huge,” said Coyle.
With three goals in his last three games—including two Saturday against the Coyotes—Coyle doesn’t want anything to change.
Whether it be his pregame routine, his linemates, or even the brand of stick he uses, Coyle wouldn’t mind keeping things status quo during his hot streak and the Bruins win streak.
But as one of many NHL’ers who currently uses a CCM stick, Coyle is certainly keeping an eye on the situation in China.
Due to the coronavirus that has swept through parts of China, the NHL has had its issues getting their normal supply of twigs to dish out to it’s players as things have slowed down in factories across China.
“I’ve been kinda looking for some, and I think they’re kinda slowed up a bit for obvious — for a good reason,” said Coyle “So I am trying to make do, trying not to break too many right now.”
“I don’t really know what’s going on over there to be honest,” Coyle added. “Hopefully it’s not too slow.”
It seems like the lack of a fresh stick supply is the only thing that can slow Coyle down at the moment.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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