Through the Bruins first 10 games of the 2019-20 season, their recipe for success was simple.
A heavy dose of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. A chunk of solid goaltending from Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak. A potent power play, and a small amount of secondary scoring sprinkled on top.
That combination of contribution led the Bruins to a 7-1-2 start.
In Sunday night’s contest against the New York Rangers, their 11th of the season, the Bruins used one simple ingredient for their 8th win of the season: the Bergeron line.
“They're going to have good nights when they're on and they're always going to show up and be ready to go,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said following his team’s 7-4 victory at Madison Square Garden Sunday evening. “They're going to play well.”
Playing well is exactly what the Bergeron line did against the Rangers, combining for 13 points. Bergeron led the way with his 5th career hat trick, and Marchand chipped in with a pair of goals.
Pastrnak—who had five assists—failed to score a goal after lighting the lamp at least once in his previous five games.
"Right now, we're confident each night and we're just kind of rolling it over into the next game,” said Marchand. “Hopefully it continues, but when we have the group that we have that's consistently dangerous all the way through the lineup, it makes it easier on all of us to go out and play our game. I think we're all seeing benefits from that right now."
Not only did the Bergeron line fill up the box score with their 13 combined points, they dominated puck possession all night, toying with a Rangers team that couldn’t solve the Bruins top line puzzle.
Marchand (8), Bergeron (8) and Pastrnak (4) combined for 20 shots attempts.
After allowing a first period goal to the Rangers, a goal that took a few bounces New York's way, the Bruins stormed back with four unanswered second period goals, including two in the periods first 1:08.
"Stay with it. We've been there before. You're a shot away, we've had some good looks,” Bergeron said about falling behind 1-0 despite dictating the pace of play.
“I thought it was a good period. Couple of plays here and there that could've been better, but still, I think we were having a pretty good period. Obviously getting the two quick goals to start the second got us going."
When the Bergeron line is clicking like they have been through the team’s first 11 games, the Bruins are a hard team to beat.
While the three members of the Bruins top line have accounted for 64% (23 of 36) of the Bruins goals scored to date, Cassidy knows that there are too many good players in the league and that the club can’t be relying on Bergeron and company to lead the offensive charge each night.
“They're going to play well, but certainly some nights the defenders are equal to the tasks as well,” added Cassidy. “They're dialed in, they're good pros. They read off each other well, they're always ready to play and tonight they've got rewarded a little more than usual.”
Secondary scoring was an issue for the Bruins last season, and an issue that has crept over into the start of the current campaign. But pucks are finally starting to go in for the rest of the Bruins group, including Charlie Coyle who got his first of the season in the victory.
"That guy's a horse, another guy we're not worried about,” Marchand said of Coyle. “Every guy is gonna have their night. If everyone plays their game every game and does what they do well, then they're gonna be a good player for this team. That's what's been going on here. We win by committee every night. That's why we're a good team. That's why we're winning games."
So Brad, are you concerned about the lack of secondary scoring?
“Nope,” Marchand said. We’re having fun.”
Injuries continue to grow
With David Krejci and Karson Kuhlman already out of the lineup, the Bruins got more bad news on the injury front in New York as they were without Chris Wagner and Joakim Nordstrom in the win.
Wagner missed the contest with the Rangers after blocking a shot with his foot in Saturday’s victory over the Blues. Nordstrom sat out as he dealt with what Cassidy said was an infection issue.
With Wanger and Nordstrom unable to go, the Bruins recalled Peter Cehlarik for their tilt with the Rangers. The 24-year old Cehlarik failed to land a shot on goal and was a minus-two in 12:05 of ice time Sunday.
The Bruins also lost Par Lindholm in the second period with an upper-body injury. He did not return to the game and Cassidy had no further update on his status after the game.
After an off-day Monday, the Bruins return Tuesday to host the San Jose Sharks. A contest where they hope to get a body or two back in the mix.
Will this be Joe Thornton’s last stop in Boston?
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»