By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
During the Boston Bruins’ six-game winning streak, which has improved their record to 28-19-2, the first line has been incredibly productive. Elias Lindholm centering David Pastrnak and Marat Khusnutdinov has been causing all sorts of problems for opponents.
Strength up the middle
In his second year in Boston, Lindholm appears a lot more comfortable in his role. He has dished out 24 assists and buried eight goals. Lindholm has also been a threat on the power play, with five goals on the man advantage.
He has also been doing his job at the dot, winning over 55 percent of faceoffs. Over this recent streak for the Bruins, he has picked up 5 points and been a key cog on defense. While Lindholm can improve his five-on-five scoring, he is playing an important role for the Bruins each game.
One of the best
At this point in his career, Bruins fans know what they are getting with David Pastrnak. His elite offensive skill is as potent as anyone in the league. And this year has been no different.
Skating in 44 games, Pastrnak has already corralled 39 helpers and 20 lamp lighters. A positive sign in his continued growth as a player is that this will likely be Pastrnak’s third straight season picking up more assists than goals.
On the power play, he is given the freedom to roam, look to set up his teammates, and still show off his elite finishing ability. He is only two points away from tying his production on the man advantage from last season.
And he has been ridiculous during this six-game winning streak, most notably his historic six-assist performance against the New York Rangers. And he still has a shot at hitting the elusive 100-point mark for the fourth straight campaign.
Finding his game
When the Bruins acquired Marat Khusnutdinov from the Minnesota Wild last March as part of a package for Justin Brazeau, few knew how valuable he would become for Boston. He had picked up six career goals and ten points in parts of two seasons coming into this campaign.
But in 44 games this year, Khusnutdinov has already collected 11 assists and has buried 11 goals. He has really come alive of late, especially with his four-goal eruption against the Rangers.
He is developing chemistry with Pastrnak and working to reach prime scoring areas. His speed was obvious at the start of the year. But after playing up and down the Bruins’ lineup, Khusnutdinov has been able to put that motor to good use and currently claims a spot on the Bruins top line.
Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm will no doubt keep this line intact as long as Boston is banking points. But it will be interesting to see how long this unit stays together. There has been shuffling done throughout the Bruins’ lineup this season. However, if these three continue to produce, Sturm might not have a reason to change the first line.
The Bruins will need a terrific effort tonight to keep their winning streak alive. Boston will be in Dallas, taking on the Stars, before returning home to face the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens. If you want to see the Bruins in person at TD Garden or on the road, consider using this official StubHub Ticket-affiliated link here for the most competitive concert and sporting event tickets in the North American region.
Leave a Reply