For a franchise that celebrated its A hundredth-anniversary final season, the Boston Bruins don’t have many extra franchise firsts – that adjustments tonight (Oct. 19) because the Bruins head to Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah for his or her first recreation in opposition to the newly minted Utah Hockey Membership.
Utah entered the league this season, changing the Arizona Coyotes and have began off driving the momentum of a brand new franchise with a 3-1-1 document, sitting third within the Central Division. All three of their wins got here consecutively and are coming into this recreation in opposition to the Bruins losers of two straight. Boston, then again, is coming off their third win of the season with a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, seeking to proceed a profitable streak on the second-last recreation of this western street journey.
Bruins Fourth Line Stays Pink Sizzling
It might solely be midway via the primary month of the common season, however completely no one anticipated Boston’s fourth line of Cole Koepke, Mark Kastelic and John Beecher to not solely be one of the best line on the workforce – however probably the greatest in the complete NHL. Thus far, they’re nonetheless the one ahead trio to not enable a objective in opposition to with over 20 minutes of ice time collectively and have scored probably the most targets of any line with eight whole (tied with the Vegas Golden Knights’ line of Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone).
Within the win over the Avalanche, the road performed simply over ten minutes collectively at 5v5 and out-scored the Avs 2-0. All three of them are tied for first on the Bruins with 5 factors every – tied with David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm. In the identical breath, Kastelic leads the workforce in hits with 22 whereas Koepke (17) and Beecher (11) should not far off. They’re working via groups’ defenses, forechecking deep into the offensive zone and producing possibilities. Boston has struggled to search out offense successfully and persistently from their high traces, however the fourth line has been a driving power for lots of their video games up to now.
It’s usually a bonus to have a scoring, heavy-hitting fourth line, however for Boston proper now it has change into crucial that Koepke, Beecher, and Kastelic keep scorching they usually’ll be a big issue within the recreation in opposition to Utah.
Utah’s Quick Offense Means Bruins’ Protection Must Be On Level
Earlier than they turned the Utah Hockey Membership, the Coyotes have been already checked out as a younger, up-and-coming future workforce that possessed harmful expert forwards up entrance and up to now in 2024-25, these younger gamers have stepped up. Getting into the sport in opposition to the Bruins on Oct. 19, they’re tenth within the NHL for anticipated targets for (xGF), with simply over ten anticipated targets at 5v5 and even then – have out-performed these possibilities, scoring 20 targets on the season up to now.
Utah has 5 gamers who’re at a point-per-game or higher this season (Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Barrett Hayton, Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller), headlined by Guenther who has buried 5 targets in as many video games performed, making it identified that he’s an elite sniper within the league. All 5 of these gamers are throughout the top-six giving them two stable ahead traces which can be able to scoring. Additional down the lineup, Utah ices a mixture of quick, expert forwards and greater, heavy forwards. Altogether, they’ve a ahead core that may rating at any time.
The Bruins have improved defensively with every recreation performed (with an exception in opposition to the Florida Panthers) and seemed fairly stable all through the win over the Avalanche. They didn’t concede a single objective at 5v5 and even power, and have solely three energy play targets in opposition to. They’ve been extra structured and much more bodily in entrance of their goaltender – retaining possibilities away from the slot space and extra so from across the outdoors areas of the zone. For fulfillment in opposition to Utah, the Bruins must hold the possibilities to the boards, retaining the house in entrance of the online clear. Utah’s quick forwards will drive round Boston’s defensemen and discover passes in the event that they’re not cautious, so the Bruins must be on level.
A Potential Center-Six Shakeup Can Carry Extra Offense
The Bruins’ middle-six has been a down level within the first 5 video games, because the play of Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Morgan Geekie has been lackluster. In opposition to the Avalanche, head coach Jim Montgomery basically benched the complete third line when Marchand left briefly through the recreation, ending Matthew Poitras’ and Riley Tufte’s evening early. Poitras didn’t have a very poor outing, however his linemates struggled in all elements, which pressured him to experience the bench within the ending minutes of the sport. In an try to shake up a number of the traces, Montgomery ran new-look combos throughout Friday’s (Oct. 18) apply in accordance with Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.
Pavel Zacha – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Justin Brazeau – Charlie Coyle – Brad Marchand
Morgan Geekie – Matthew Poitras – Trent Frederic
John Beecher – Mark Kastelic – Cole Koepke
Riley Tufte, Max Jones
The primary line has been superb and has even discovered some life on the man-advantage – one thing that has additionally struggled for the Bruins this season. David Pastrnak continues to be on fireplace after scoring his fourth objective in his fifth recreation whereas Elias Lindholm continues to be at a point-per-game tempo with two targets and three assists within the 5 video games up to now. The second line, nevertheless, lastly sees a shakeup. Marchand is moved to the suitable aspect whereas Justin Brazeau re-enters the lineup (wholesome scratch vs Colorado), leaping as much as Marchand’s regular spot on the left aspect of Charlie Coyle. On the third line, Morgan Geekie (wholesome scratch vs Colorado) additionally comes again into the lineup because the left-winger to Poitras and Trent Frederic on the alternative aspect. To nobody’s shock, the fourth line additionally stays the identical.
Associated: Can David Pastrnak Change into the Biggest Purpose Scorer in Bruins Historical past?
These traces are experimental, however present an fascinating search for the Bruins. Brazeau might use a spark and with Coyle’s first objective of the season coming in opposition to the Avalanche, he may be turning a nook and may deliver Brazeau up to the mark. Marchand switching sides could also be awkward at first, however his left-shot can result in some one-timer choices at 5v5, giving the second line extra alternatives. Extra importantly, these traces give Poitras some real assist beside him, even with Geekie and Frederic solely having a mixed one level on the season. Poitras has proven the passing ability and energy to make performs occur that will result in scoring possibilities for each his wingers – hopefully, they will convert on them.
Enjoyable Saturday Night time of Hockey
Utah and Boston have been to additional time a mixed 4 instances already in 2024-25, with three of these coming from Utah. This younger, gifted roster is much from excellent, however are a troublesome beat for any workforce on any evening within the league. The Bruins are nonetheless undefeated this season in opposition to groups not named the Panthers and can look to not solely proceed that however will look to remain excellent on the street journey across the Western Convention. These are two expert groups on a mission to experience a scorching begin which can make for an electrical evening of hockey.
