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A solid day at the office for the Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle

February 15, 2020, 7:01 PM ET [2 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Detroit Red Wings—the NHL’s worst team—have been a huge pain in the side of the Bruins—the NHL’s best team—in the previous two times the division rivals have met, both of which ended in Red Wings victories.

Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle weren’t about to let that happen for a third time this season as the Bruins’ two Charlies combined for two goals and an assist in the Bruins 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

After the Red Wings had a hard time clearing the puck out of their own zone in the second period, McAvoy tied the game at one. His second goal in five games after going 51 games without lighting the lamp.

“He’s really finding his game all-around. He was solid at the start of the year. I think he’s cleaner. Breakouts, defending, just his overall game, it just looks like he found his groove now,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.

“Good to see him shoot the puck. I know in the back of his mind, he saw Pasta [David Pastrnak] over there and was thinking, should I throw it over there, but he’s done a little more of that lately, and I think the goals are going to start to come for him, because he has the puck a lot.”

It was a big goal for the Bruins as Red Wings’ goalie Jonathan Bernier was once again shutting the Bruins down. It took 25 shots on goal before the Bruins were able to sneak one through.

“I was pretty excited,” McAvoy said of his goal. “Dating back to last week that goalie had been seeing the puck really well against us and was continuing tonight. It was just a good goal for our team to break through and stuff started going in for us.”

The McAvoy goal opened the flood gates as goals by Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle and Pastrnak followed.

“It’s always fun to contribute that way, for sure. It helps the team and we’re able to take a goal like that and then get momentum going and win a game. You know, whatever I can do,” McAvoy added.

After McAvoy got the Bruins on the board, it was he who later set up Coyle for his 13th goal of the season.

Coyle only finished the game with one goal, but he was to me, the Bruins best forward. The third line center was buzzing all game long and easily could have had himself two or three goals.



The offensive input Coyle provides is nice, no doubting that. But what impresses me the most about Coyle is how tenacious he is with the puck, and how hard he makes it for opposing teams to gain control of it.

“Well, I think it wears you down and frustrates you, as well. If you’re an offensive line and watch a guy ragging the puck the whole time and getting to the net and you’re wasting a lot of energy in your own end not attacking, I think it frustrates, and that can trickle down,” Cassidy added.

As his linemate, Anders Bjork has seen first-hand what Coyle’s puck possession can do on an opponent, and how much it can benefit a line.

“He’s been pretty consistent this year when I’ve played with him. He definitely has that next level too, especially with his puck protection and you see him being really slippery with it, sliding by guys. When he’s going—which is most of the time, he creates the space and time for himself and his linemates too,” Bjork said.

“I think it tires them, wears them down a bit, but also just gets all their guys antsy and they feel like they’re not doing anything. That’s when mistakes happen and they try and duplicate and they spin off and send me and Heino [Danton Heinen] for a quick play, even if it’s back to the D with some space. His puck protection is very effective and it’s a lot for the other team to handle.

Whether it’s centering Sean Kuraly and Bjork, or like he has the previous two games centering Heinen and Bjork, Coyle has been producing for the Bruins both on the scoresheet and from a possession standpoint.

His 52.38% Corsi For % five-on-five ranks sixth on the team, fourth among forwards.

"It’s nice to get rewarded. It’s another thing to just stick with it, knowing it will come and that you’re playing the right way and playing well for your team,” Coyle said. “We want to finish, so it’s nice to get it right away, that’s not always the case.”
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