By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
After a slow start to his Boston Bruins tenure, Viktor Arvidsson looks to have found his game with his new club. Through the first seven games in the black and gold, Arvidsson only had one assist, but after Oct. 21, the Swedish forward has gone on to record 4-2-6 in the last eight games, solidifying a second line that has found its stride as of late. This has correlated with the team’s 5-1-0 stretch over their last six games, with Arvidsson contributing four goals across this hot streak.
When Arvidsson was acquired from Edmonton just ahead of the opening of free agency, many thought the 32-year-old would find himself on the right wing in the Bruins’ middle-six. But through the first eight games, it appeared as if the former Oiler may not have the same jump he had when he was potting 30 goals as a Nashville Predator in 2017. With one assist through eight games, the question arose about moving him down in the lineup in favor of younger players.
All started to change for Arvidsson after assists in back-to-back games against Florida and Anaheim in late October. Amid a six-game losing streak and facing the Colorado Avalanche for the second time in a week, Arvidsson would find the back of the net for the first time as a Bruin, banking in a shot off Scott Wedgewood to tie the game at one. This changed the momentum in the game in favor of the Bruins, as they snapped their six-game skid with a 3-2 victory over perhaps the best team in the Western Conference.
He continued his four-game point streak with a goal in the Bruins’ 7-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Despite two games being held without a point in wins over the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres to end the month, Arvidsson would regain that touch, sniping the eventual game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes and tying the game at one last night against the Islanders on a fortuitous bounce.
Arvidsson and his linemates, Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, have been key for the Bruins in the last eight games. When first-line center Elias Lindholm suffered an injury against the Sabres last week, it was that trio who stepped up and helped the Bruins maintain their winning ways as of late. In their last eight games, the second line has combined for 8-12-16, including contributing multiple goals in recent wins over the Hurricanes and the Islanders.
With the Lindholm injury, the second line has been asked to play bigger minutes, both at five on five and on the power play. Arvidsson and Zacha both tallied over 18 minutes on ice last night in the Bruins’ 4-3 shootout win over the Islanders and both responded in kind with goals. It was Mittelstadt and Arvidsson who scored the two goals in the Bruins’ 2-1 win over a talented Hurricanes team, both coming in the third period.
The correlation between team success and Arvidsson’s (and his linemates’) production is evident in the Bruins’ hot stretch. Not having to rely on the top line to produce every night is crucial for Head Coach Marco Sturm and seeing Arvidsson begin to contribute more frequently is leading to success. For the Bruins to continue playing good hockey, Arvidsson and his linemates need to build on this strong stretch, especially when the team faces injuries and inconsistencies.
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