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What will the Bruins playoff lineup look like?

March 28, 2023, 2:40 PM ET [33 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Bruins have already clinched the Atlantic Division and with a win tonight against Nashville combined with a Carolina Hurricanes loss, the Bruins will clinch the Presidents’ Trophy.

Taylor Hall is skating with the team, albeit in a non-contact jersey, but a good sign, nonetheless.

Nick Foligno has begun skating on his own and should be joining his teammates on the ice in the very near future, likely also in a non-contact jersey to start.

All signs are pointing towards Hall and Foligno returning at some point in the playoffs. Game 1 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs seems like a realistic possibility.

Derek Forbort who was recently injured after blocking a shot against Winnipeg is not expected back during the regular season.

So, when Hall and Foligno are back, what will the Bruins lineup look like? For this exercise, we’ll include Forbort in the hopes he is ready to go in the playoffs.

Let’s look:

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Jake DeBrusk

In the 368:52 of five-on-five time the three have spent together, the Bruins have a 67.65% goals for percentage, an uptick from their expected goals for total of 60.53%.

They’ve also generated 99 high-danger scoring chances for, allowing 62.

Moral of the story here is that when these three are on the ice, good things are happening.

Pavel Zacha – David Krejci – David Pastrnak

The addition of Zacha has been huge for the Bruins depth, and the Bruins Czech line has been one of their most consistent to date.

Pastrnak’s career best 51 goals has a lot to do with how well he’s played with Zacha and Krejci. The three have been fun to watch, their puck moving skills often on display.

Taylor Hall – Charlie Coyle – Tyler Bertuzzi

This is where things get interesting and head coach Jim Montgomery can get creative in his bottom-six.

Although Bertuzzi has scored just once since his trade to Boston from Detroit, I’ve really liked the way he’s played. I think his passing is an underrated part of his game. What I’ve liked most about his game is how much time he spends around the net, something I think can work really well playing with Hall and Coyle.

With how well Coyle possesses the puck, creating space for his linemates, that allows Hall to work his offensive magic and get pucks on net. That leaves Bertuzzi to clean up the trash and give the Bruins a third dangerous scoring line.

In the 315:19 of five-on-five ice time Hall and Coyle have spent together, they have a goals for percentage of 55.56% and a high-danger scoring chances for percentage of 54.47%.

Nick Foligno -Tomas Nosek– Garnet Hathaway

Montgomery’s toughest decision when everyone is healthy is which forward sits. In this case, it’s Trent Frederic. I believe it comes down to Frederic and Nosek.

I do think in a seven-game series, you’ll see players rotating in and out, but even with how well Frederic has played this year, Nosek and his role is too valuable to not have in lineup.

What jumps out to me about the body of work Foligno and Nosek have put together is that just 11.67% of faceoffs that have occurred with those two on the ice have come in the offensive zone, 14 total.

132 have come in the neutral zone and 106 in the defensive zone.

Nosek is one of the Bruins more important penalty killers, averaging 2:31 of shorthanded time on ice per game. Among forwards only Charlie Coyle (2.32) averages more.

Depending on the opponent and tone of the series, I do anticipate situations where Frederic is brought in to center the fourth line, providing more grit and skill.

Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy

Piecing together the Bruins defensive pairings will be an interesting task. I wouldn’t be surprised to see several different parings throughout games as different situations arise.

Generally, I like the idea of splitting Lindholm and McAvoy up and running each out there for 27-30 minutes per game.

But I think keep these two together in a potential series with Tampa Bay or Toronto gives you your best shot at winning.

Dmitry Orlov – Brandon Carlo

In a limited sample size, Orlov and Carlo have looked when paired together. In 35:16 of five-on-five ice time together, the pair has not allowed a goal to date. They’ve limited opponents to seven high-danger scoring chances.

Derek Forbort – Connor Clifton

If healthy, Forbort provides the Bruins with a top-notch penalty killer, leading the Bruins with 3:08 of shorthanded time on ice per game. You saw earlier in the year when Forbort was out with an injury how much the Bruins penalty kill suffered.
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