Bruins Center Reaches New Career Heights
The 31-year-old center scored his 17th goal of the season in the Boston Bruins' 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets Monday night at TD Garden.
Bruins Center Reaches New Career HeightsBOSTON -- Charlie Coyle finished the 2022-23 season with 16 goals and 29 assists through 82 games.
The Boston Bruins center scored his 17th goal – and 38th point – of the 2023-24 campaign Monday night at TD Garden in his team’s 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
In just 45 games this year, Coyle has surpassed his previous marks and is on track to smash his career-high 21 goals, which he notched during the 2015-16 season with the Minnesota Wild.
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In the absence of Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins needed Coyle to step up and into top-six pivot positioning. Not only has the 31-year-old risen to the occasion, he’s cemented himself as Boston’s best and most trustworthy center while recently skating on the first line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
“I’m just trying to play the best I can for the team, and you try to take advantage of the opportunities that are there for you,” Coyle said Monday.
“I just want to come in every night and contribute and be the best player I can. Whatever the team needs from me is what I want to bring and keep building on that.”
Coyle’s game deserves to be looked at holistically: He’s been tenacious on the penalty kill, is the first one up to forecheck and has bought into playing a 200-foot game on a nightly basis. His uptick in offensive production, though, has rounded him out to be an invaluable difference maker.
“He’s someone that helps you win every night, even if he’s not generating. Now, I do see his offensive confidence, his wanting to shoot pucks,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Monday.
The consistency Coyle is showcasing while playing between the Bruins’ top two goal-scorers has shown the growth in his game since last season. Coyle isn’t just there to ensure Pastrnak and Marchand are getting their looks – he’s getting his own.
The East Weymouth, Mass. native has logged eight points in his last five games, and hasn’t gone more than two games without a point since mid December.
“He’s playing with ‘Pasta,’ he’s not looking for ‘Pasta,’ he’s taking a shot when it’s there, he’s hanging onto pucks, not looking to give in,” Montgomery said. “That’s the level of confidence I think he’s grown into being our No. 1 center.”
In a season that was predicted to be full of instability, Coyle has provided a grounding force down the middle while simultaneously discovering a new level to his offensive capabilities. It’s a big reason why the Bruins are sitting comfortably atop the Atlantic Division, and it’s a big reason why they are once again contenders.
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