This season has been a testament to the Boston Bruins team culture. Intangible and elusive, the concept of organisational identity is not usually easy to quantify, though this season’s Bruins are making a case. Despite losing their top two centres, including captain and the finest defensive centre of his era Patrice Bergeron, the beat goes on for the Bruins. Once again the Bruins are a force to be reckoned with and are cruising to a playoff spot.
Despite the optics of this post-Bergeron storyline, the Bruins still have a lineup filled with elite players. The Bruins are not controlling the flow of play as well as they did last season, but are still a quality team that is expecting to pull through a long playoff run.
Forwards
Projected lines
Heinen — Zacha — Pastrnak
Marchand — Coyle — DeBrusk
van Riemsdyk — Geekie — Fredrick
Beecher — Boqvist — Brazeau
Extras: Maroon, Lauko, Steen
Offensively, it is David Pastrnak who drives the Bruins scoring. Nearly 40 points ahead of the team’s next highest scorer, Brad Marchand, Pastrnak is being relied upon heavily. Marchand is no longer at the height of his game, though is clearly still a quality top-six forward. With that said the Bruins depth is not to be underestimated, as their forward group is populated with effective players. Pavel Zacha, Jake DeBrusk, and Charlie Coyle are all quality secondary options, all possessing an element of size and power to the ice, a theme that will be evident throughout the Bruins roster. Between the three there is some decent scoring ability.
Not far behind are a quartet of legitimate top-nine forwards James van Riemsdyk, Trent Fredrick, Morgan Geekie, and Danton Heinen. van Riemsdyk is still a quality net front player who can produce on the power play. Heinen has the physical tools and skating to impact play, though he currently finds himself enjoying the most usage of his career. Fredrick is known most for his edge, but has quietly become a capable player in his own right. Fredrick has a good chance to hit 20 goals this season, a feat we might see him accomplish a few more times in his career. Geekie has come into his own in his second season as a Bruin. A shoot first centre, Geekie has held onto the third line centre role all season.
There is some intrigue on the Bruins fourth line, involving younger players who should see themselves push higher up in the Bruins lineup in the years to come. As a whole, the unit has done well in limiting chances against, and clearly have fostered some trust from the Bruins coaching staff. Justin Brazeau has impressed in his NHL rookie season. Jesper Boqvist brings an element of skill to the group. John Beecher is the youngest of those in the mix, and the former first-round pick is still starting his NHL journey. The Bruins are hoping this tutelage on the fourth line will help Beecher on his path to a centre spot higher in the lineup down the road.
In all this group illustrates that the Bruins value size in their forward group, with most of these players well over 6’0”. The Bruins play simple on the attack, prioritising chances from in tight. There might be some concerns over the slight volume of top end talent, but the group does bring a blend of strengths to the ice.
Defence
Projected pairings
Grzelcyk — McAvoy
Lindholm — Carlo
Wotherspoon — Peeke
Extras: Shattenkirk, Lohrei, Forbort
We see some themes carry over from the Bruins forward group to their defence, namely size and a lack of game breaking offensive talent. This does not indicate a lack of overall quality, as the Bruins blueline has a strong defensive game. The group is led by three pillars of defensive prowess, Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Brandon Carlo.
McAvoy leads the group, with Lindholm not too far behind as what many would call true top pairing defencemen. Both have quality offensive tools and help generate offence, but their strengths are more without possession. Carlo provides little offensive support, but is a trusted defensive option.
There are some puck moving options, as Matt Grzelcyk and Kevin Shattenkirk can make smart, functional plays that support offence. Shattenkirk is a more veteran presence, who might find himself on the outside looking in with the blueline at full health. Like Heinen, Grzelcyk is playing higher up in the lineup than would be ideal, but has been pinching up fairly well.
The rest of the Bruins blueline is populated by big, physical defenders. Parker Wotherspoon seems to have the inside track for a spot on the left side, though Derek Forbort might be in the conversation when healthy. Mason Lohrei has done well as a rookie, even while playing higher in the lineup, though the Bruins are more likely to entrust a veteran to the role at full health. Andrew Peeke joined as a trade deadline acquisition, and could be a long term fit behind McAvoy and Carlo on the right side. Peeke certainly embodies the size and physicality that the Bruins covet.
In all, the Bruins blueline is quite deep and is comfortable in its identity. They will be able to protect the middle of the ice, and are well positioned to navigate the attrition of the playoffs.
A strong power play
The Bruins power play has been solid, above 23% and top 10 in the league, running through Pastrnak on his weak side, at the left flank. By far their most dangerous scorer, Pastrnak will be keeping defenders off balance with incredible proficiency as a shooter and a passer. The top unit will see Marchand on the right flank, McAvoy on the blueline, and some variation of Coyle, Zacha, and van Riemsdyk in the middle as the bumper or net front. Of late it has been van Reimsdyk removed from the top unit, though his effectiveness at the net front remains.
A comparable penalty kill
The Bruins penalty kill is good as well, over 82% and, like the Bruins power play, top 10 in the league. Lindholm and Carlo are the top defence pairing, while McAvoy and one of Wotherspoon or Forbort comprise the second pair. The Bruins aren’t shy to use their skilled forwards on the penalty kill, with Coyle, Marchand, Zacha, and DeBrusk the main regulars. Heinen and Beecher have seen time as well.
Goalies
With several teams around the league struggling to find a reliable starting goalie the Bruins have a unique situation in net. For now it seems the procession from reigning Vezina winner Linus Ullmark to upstart Jeremy Swayman has gone fairly smoothly. It does help that the goalies are such good friends, fostering a healthy relationship while sharing the crease fairly evenly.
Ullmark has been a fantastic UFA signing for the Bruins, flourishing behind a solid defensive team in his time as a Bruin. Ullmark did not enjoy the same luxury as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, and the Bruins were right to bet on his talent.
Swayman is thought of as one of the top young starters in the league. His development has been aided by a fairly ideal situation, behind a strong defensive team and with a capable tandem mate. Clearly Swayman is the long term plan, and the Bruins have eased him into the lead role.
History versus the Leafs
On paper the Leafs should feel good about their chances against the Bruins in a playoff series, as the teams each have advantages over each other. The Leafs have the stronger forward group and offence, while the Bruins have the stronger defence and goaltending. The main concern should be the Bruins decided edge on special teams. The Bruins are the more accomplished and consistent team, which should lead to them being considered the favourites.
In reality the matchup is more complicated. The Bruins have swept the regular season series between the teams, and have a memorable history of beating the Leafs in dramatic fashion. We can only speculate on the psyche of the players, but all of Leafs Nation feels the historical weight of this hypothetical matchup. To delve into the narrative of their historical rivalry, the Leafs being able to defeat the Bruins does seem a coming of age, symbolically an important piece on the Leafs road to glory.
A big part of this narrative is the element of physicality and intimidation, where the Bruins historically have the edge. The Leafs have been reshaped by GM Brad Treleving to have more proverbial “snot”, which might be enough to have tipped the scales. The dangers of focusing on this narrative have played out before, the Leafs becoming unhinged, or at least overextended, in trying to keep up. The hope is that this time around the Leafs have more fully integrated this physical disposition into their identity, that it will be a natural and inevitable part of their game. With the Bruins special teams advantage, the Leafs must be careful to avoid the penalty box and to keep their emotions in check.
Expect the Leafs to dress some of their more physical defenders to handle the Bruins forwards at the net front. There should be a concerted effort to shut down Pastrnak. The prospect of a Game 7 in Boston is a distinct possibility, and the Leafs will have to embrace the challenge as an opportunity.
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