Why Bruins Will Test New Second Line Against Tampa Bay
The Boston Bruins rolled out a never-before-seen line combination during Monday’s practice, and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery is hoping it will bring a spark against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports - Why Bruins Will Test New Second Line Against Tampa BayBRIGHTON, Mass. – After falling flat in two of their last three games, the Boston Bruins are shaking things up.
The Bruins practiced for the first time since their 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday. It marked the first time Boston was shut out this season, and it came just four days after an uninspiring 4-1 defeat to the Calgary Flames. Sandwiched between was a 4-0 domination against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks, so reestablishing that consistency is the immediate focus.
“Hopefully we kind of addressed it today and looked at some things,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said after Monday’s practice. “Expect to be better tomorrow, but it’s not going to be perfect tomorrow. It never is. It’s always a work-in-progress.”
With a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on tap for Tuesday, the Bruins rolled out new lines during practice on Monday:
Aside from recent call-up Anthony Richard shifting up to the third line, the biggest change is the second line of Trent Frederic, Pavel Zacha and Jake DeBrusk. Each has played with one or the other on a line together over the past season-and-a-half, but never has this combination of three played together.
That will change tomorrow. No matter how long it lasts, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery likes the potential matchup of pitting those three against Tampa Bay’s top forwards.
“All three of them can score goals. Big, heavy lines. First time we’re seeing it, so just looking at it,” Montgomery said. “[Lightning forwards Nikita] Kucherov and [Brayden] Point, and sometimes it’s [Steven] Stamkos, sometimes it’s [Brandon] Hagel. That’s a pretty dominant line, so we’re gonna match up.”
While the sample size is low, lines that DeBrusk and Frederic shared together have been dominant. The two have spent a total of 13:41 of 5-on-5 time together; three games with Charlie Coyle and two others with Danton Heinen. Those two lines have a combined Corsi For Percentage of 90.48 (19-2 Corsi For vs. Against) and have outshot opponents 9-1, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Frederic and Zacha have spent just 45 seconds on a line together this season, but spent considerable time together last season on a line with Coyle. During 80:43 over 16 games in 2022-23, the Zacha-Coyle-Frederic line had a 44.16 Corsi For Percentage and was outshot 47-31. They combined for just one goal but only allowed one on their end.
Zacha and DeBrusk have spent the most time together this season, and while their line with James van Riemsdyk has been outshot 20-16 through 32:07 at 5-on-5, it has outscored opponents 3-1.
With all three uniting for the first time, DeBrusk is excited about the potential.
“‘Freddy’s’ really good down low with holding pucks and keeping possession, and ‘Pav’ makes really smart plays,” DeBrusk said. “He’s got a really good hockey IQ in the sense of finding guys. Obviously you see his chemistry with different guys and things, but I’m looking forward to it. Obviously it’s a little different with three lefties, but you look at that and I look at it as an opportunity where I can maybe push the pace a little more with my speed and help them get more pucks and make some plays.”
The season series with Tampa Bay is split 1-1 entering Tuesday, and DeBrusk said he expects a physical game in a divisional matchup that still carries heat from playoff series in 2018 and 2020, each of which the Lightning won.
“They’ve had our number, last couple playoff series that we played against them, and [they're] always a good team. They always have had really good defensemen and obviously goaltending and forwards, so there’s a reason why they’ve been so good for so long. … They’re a dangerous team, so we have to be ready to play.”
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