New-Look Third Line Will Get Another Shot

BostonBruins.com - Bruce Cassidy is still tinkering with his lineup.

Three games into the Bruins' first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston's bench boss has used a number of combinations, particularly up front, as he tries to find the right chemistry. And with David Pastrnak set to miss his third straight game on Monday night, Cassidy's lines will likely remain in flux.

But he might just have found a spark with a new-look third line. Anchored by Charlie Coyle in the middle, with Sean Kuraly and rookie Jack Studnicka alongside on the wings, the trio brought some flash and plenty of speed in Boston's 3-1 victory in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.

And while they didn't cash in together at 5-on-5, Cassidy was quite pleased with what he saw from the triumvirate, particularly when it came to Coyle, who cashed in with a power-play goal and a helper on Kuraly's shorthanded winner in the third.

"We need Charlie Coyle to be an effective player for us, an impact player," said Cassidy. "He doesn't have to dominate every night - I don't think anybody does on our team - but you know we still need secondary scoring. He went on the first [power play] unit…I know we got a big goal out of it, that to me is timely scoring on the power play, not always the percentage, and today it mattered. Shorthanded goal…they gave it to Kuraly, but by the same token Charlie was a big part of that.

"He's added to our penalty kill. When he first got here, we didn't give him as much responsibility there; we had other guys in the lineup, but he's kind of pushed his way into that conversation so good for him. You know that means he's playing PP, PK, and driving a line with Jack Studnicka, a young guy.

"That's what we expect out of Charlie, play well in all those situations. [In Game 3], we got some offense - great, we need it. And again, proved himself last year in the playoffs, a guy that we can rely on and he's proven to be that again."

Coyle ended up with two shots on goal and two hits in 17:08 of ice time in Game 3, including 5:53 on the power play and 2:24 shorthanded. The Weymouth native, who tied for the team lead with nine goals during last year's run to the Stanley Cup Final, acknowledged that playing in all situations has helped boost his performance.

"If you're not on special teams and there are a lot of penalties, sometimes you kind of get lost with the rhythm of your shifts, the regular shifts," said Coyle. "When you're playing that, PK and power play, you're always in a situation, no matter what happens during the game. I think more players than not are going to find their legs a little more, and it's easier to stay in the game that way, because you're involved in those situations. If that's the case, that's what they have me doing, then I have to take advantage of that opportunity."

Kuraly, meanwhile, came through with yet another timely goal in a big spot when the 27-year-old tipped home a Coyle feed on the penalty kill just 1:16 into the third period for the eventual winner. It was his latest clutch tally, adding to an already lengthy list that includes a double-overtime winner against Ottawa in 2017, the deciding goal in the 2019 Winter Classic, a massive third-period marker in Game 7 against Toronto last season, and the Game 1 winner in the 2019 Cup Final.

"I think it's just a fun time of year," Kuraly said of his playoff heroics. "It's the product of a good team. When you have a good team around you, it makes those plays possible. If we're not in these positions in these playoff games, none of that is possible.

"It's a product of having good role models around on this team and good leadership, good teammates, good linemates…I think it's a byproduct of a lot of other good things. And sometimes it ends up going in the net off my stick."

On the other side of the ice, Studnicka was playing in his first career postseason series - his first official playoff game came during the round-robin - and brought some noticeable jump and skill to the lineup. The 21-year-old played just 9:18 but landed four shots on goal in Game 3.

"Even going in, just talking to him early on, you can tell he's got a quiet confidence in him for a young kid," said Coyle. "And that's huge, stepping into a playoff game as a guy of his nature. That says a lot. And he works. That's what we need from guys who are stepping in, filling certain roles. And he did that tonight. He was battling.

"The puck was on his stick a lot of times in the offensive zone, making things happen. That's what we need from him. He's got a lot of energy and he has those young legs and he was a big factor for us [on Saturday]. So, hats off to him for sure."

Pastrnak Out; Bjork, Clifton Still In

Pastrnak skated for the second straight day on Monday morning, but will remain out of the lineup for the third consecutive game. Anders Bjork, despite taking three penalties in Game 3, will get another shot to ride alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand on Boston's top line.

"Anders spent the most time there in training camp," Cassidy said, referring to Pastrnak's absence during the sesssions in Brighton. "Obviously, in game we can make adjustments. But at the end of the day, the message to him is just play your game. You're not going to replace Pasta. We're not expecting him to go out and be would David is to us now. David is much farther along in this development, went through some of what Anders went through, albeit at a younger age, but still.

"We're just asking him to play well, get on pucks, have a good stick - the other day...he's trying to create some turnovers, unfortunately, and didn't get under people. He got over top of them, got called a few times. We have to eliminate that. You can't take your linemates out of the game and force them to kill penalties. Obviously, you're going to take a penalty here or there.

"But we discussed that. He committed, he gets it, a young guy that we feel will help us. He certainly had some good looks the first few games. Didn't finish them. So, that's the way we're going to start it. If we have to make a switch in game, we will, but I have a feeling he'll bounce back. He's been a good player for us, a good complementary guy and that's what we're asking him to do to that line. Complement that line and we'll see where it leads us."

Cassidy was pleased with Connor Clifton's effort in Game 3 and will turn back to the blue liner again in Game 4. Clifton, skating with Matt Grzelcyk on the third pair, brought plenty of his patented 'Cliffy Hockey' energy, while landing five hits in 13:19 of ice time.

"Cliffy played well the other day, moved the puck, had juice in his game, was physical. Stuff he typically does well. We felt Cliffy could bring that," said Cassidy. "It's just, he didn't play a lot of hockey this year, so going into the pause, Jeremy [Lauzon] did play and played well for us. So that was the thinking of why he'd get the first crack at it.

"It just seems like in this series, the ability to move the puck out of your zone, the foot speed in that regard - the decision making, making good plays - Cliffy might have a little bit of an edge on Jeremy right now, because of his experience in the playoffs and his makeup. So, that's the reason for the switch.

"I think no matter who goes in there, our guys are typically ready. We've got great depth and Cliffy he did his job and did it well."

Projected Lineup

FORWARDS

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Anders Bjork

Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase

Sean Kuraly - Charlie Coyle - Jack Studnicka

Joakim Nordstrom - Par Lindholm - Chris Wagner

DEFENSEMEN

Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo

Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Clifton

GOALIES

Jaroslav Halak

Daniel Vladar

Opposing View

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed on Monday morning that forward Andrei Svechnikov, injured toward the end of Game 3, and defenseman Joel Edmundson are unfit to participate and will not play in Game 4.