By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on X @cookejournalism
Looking to spark a mute offense, Jim Montgomery has yet again thrown the Boston Bruins’ offensive line combinations into a blender. Boston (3-3-1) hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire with their start to the 2024-25 season, which has been riddled with the inability to produce consistent scoring in the lineup, specifically in the top six where you need it the most.
So, like Montgomery has been known to do, it looks like the forward lines are prepped for another shuffle as the Bruins return to TD Garden on Thursday night for a 7 p.m. puck drop with the Dallas Stars. In seven games this season, the Bruins have averaged three goals per game, which ranks tied for 19th best in the National Hockey League while their 13.8% power play success rate slots in at 24th. Let’s see if Montgomery’s latest switches make a difference on Thursday:
Marchand-Lindholm-Pastrnak
After starting the season on the second line with Morgan Geekie and Charlie Coyle, Montgomery is giving Boston’s captain a look to break his goal drought on the first line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak, a combination that the bench boss experimented with in Boston’s uninspiring 4-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Marchand has yet to find the back of the net this season but has supplemented his offensive contributions with four assists. However, the Bruins will surely need Marchand to start lighting the lamp for the team to successfully break out of their scoring lull. This isn’t exactly unsurprising from Marchand—who underwent three offseason surgeries and is now 36 years old—but placing him with Boston’s top playmakers in Lindholm and Pastrnak isn’t a bad idea. If Lindholm is drawing Bergeron comparisons with his 200-foot play, why not try and recreate the “perfection line?”
Geekie-Zacha-Poitras
With Marchand going up, Pavel Zacha is heading down. Zacha has been held to just two points this season and has seemingly not gotten off to the start with Lindholm and Pastrnak that the trio hoped for this season. Nonetheless, he’ll get an opportunity to center a pair of offensively gifted forwards in Morgan Geekie and Matt Poitras.
Until Fabian Lysell gets the call to join the big club, Poitras seems to be Boston’s best bet to occupy the second line. Poitras, who has been held without a goal this season, has shown significant strides, however, from his debut stint last year with the Bruins. He looks bigger, stronger, and more aware of how to play the game at the NHL level. He’s certainly made some miscues, but his offensive capabilities are too high to oversee. I’d look for him to get going sooner rather than later.
Koepke-Coyle-Frederic
Boston’s leading point-scorer is getting a promotion. Cole Koepke, who has notched 3-3-6 and leads the Bruins in points this season, has been a pleasant surprise anchored on Boston’s unstoppable fourth line. Believe it or not, Koepke currently leads the NHL in plus-minus at +10. He’ll get an opportunity to let his offensive game flourish with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic, who are in the nucleus of Bruins forwards who have gotten off to slow starts. Both have just scored one goal each and are without assists.
Coyle and Frederic are players that are built for third-line hockey. Coyle’s potent ability to handle and protect pucks coupled with Frederic’s grit and offensive touch is perfect for what the Bruins are trying to accomplish in the middle-six. Does this leave holes on the second line for Boston? Most definitely, but right now Montgomery isn’t planning to leave one stone unturned. ‘
Beecher-Kastelic-Brazeau
But there is one problem with this adjustment. Why break up one of the best lines in the NHL? Koepke hasn’t played like a fourth-liner this season, but when there is an apparent level of chemistry with Mark Kastelic and John Beecher, splitting them up is an interesting decision as the Bruins search for offense.
Justin Brazeau draws into the Boston lineup with this change, who has recorded one assist in five games played this season. Brazeau has had success possessing pucks below the goal line and creating plays for his teammates and is certainly a fourth line player on this Bruins team. It will be interesting to see how he complements the speed that Beecher brings and Kastelic’s sandpaper that has elevated him to fan-favorite status.
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