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What is wrong with Charlie Coyle? |
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The Bruins top-six is finally set.
They’ve got two scoring lines that can provide dangerous shifts each and every time they jump over the boards.
With the Bruins top two lines seeing the majority of the other teams’ tougher defensive matchups, the door is open for third line success.
But for whatever reason, the third line of Nick Ritchie, Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk have yet to take a step through that door.
When the Bruins traded for Taylor Hall and slotted him next to David Krejci and Craig Smith, the hope was Hall would solidify the second line—which he has—and at the same time, provide the Bruins with a reliable third line, one that would chip in with secondary scoring.
That however, has not been the case. You know, the whole secondary scoring part from the line.
In the 50:03 of five-on-five ice time Ritchie, Coyle and DeBrusk have skated together since the trade for Hall, Bruins opponents have the edge in:
Shot attempts: 57-40
Scoring chances: 29-19
High-danger scoring chances 8-5
The line has the edge in shots on goal 27-26 and have scored once while allowing one goal. Their poor analytics surely is not from a lack of opportunity, as 72% of the lines faceoffs have come in the offensive zone.
With the lines struggles, Coyle’s lack of production is magnified. The third line pivot has not scored since Feb. 28, a span of 27 games.
"I know what I'm capable of, but I think the main thing is you've just got to bring the other parts of your game. Just because you aren't scoring, you can't stray away from the other parts and what I do as a player that benefit this team. Sometimes when you're not scoring you tend to do that,” said Coyle.
"I've learned to just trust my game and go back to the basics, moving my feet, playing physical, getting in on the forecheck, shooting the puck, and getting to the net. Those are the things that I have to keep reminding myself to do and when I do that, it will pay off.”
The lack of offensive production certainly is frustrating, but as Coyle mentioned, it’s the little things that have escaped his game that’s equally frustrating.
Since his trade from Minnesota, Coyle has been at his best when he’s a puck possession monster.
When Coyle is on his game, it feels like the puck is super glued to his stick, only coming dislodged when he’s ready for it to. And with that, usually success for himself and his line as a whole has followed.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy’s frustration with the Coyle line came to a boiling point in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Penguins.
Shortly into the contest, Cassidy juggled his bottom six, moving Curtis Lazar to the third line, centering DeBrusk on the left and Coyle on the right. Ritchie was moved to the fourth line with Sean Kurlay and Chris Wagner.
The swap failed to provide a positive result.
"Probably lack of production from a number of guys down there for extended periods of time now that you expect more from," Cassidy said about making the swap "Quite frankly, I think they're all capable of giving a little bit more offensively. We moved some pieces around. If you're not going to score, you need to keep the puck out of your net.”
In another attempt of throwing you know what at the wall and hoping it sticks, it appears Coyle will be moved to the right side for the time being as he appeared on a line with Nick Ritchie and Sean Kuraly at practice Monday.
Another attempt to kickstart Coyle and the bottom six.
"Charlie hasn't found it offensively here in a while, so, as I alluded to earlier, sometimes there's conversations with players like, 'Yeah, let's do that, maybe it'll get me shooting more.' We've done that with Charlie in the past,” said Coyle.
“We've said how we'd like our lineup to look like, but by the same token, we've acquired a guy in Lazar that can play fourth-line center. Let's see where he's at and maybe he becomes a guy that moves up later if Charlie's good on the wing.”
The Bruins have nine games left before the playoffs to figure out their bottom six, and figure out how to get any sort of production from their third line.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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