Get to Know the Enemy: Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins vs Arizona Coyotes:
Current Standings: 4th in NHL Atlantic (29 POINTS)
2014-2015 Record: 14-12-1 (4-5-0 vs. WC, 2-3-0 vs. Pacific Division)
Goal Differential: -3 (67 Goals For, 70 Goals Against)
*Boston has taken the last four games against the Coyotes by a combined score of 11-4
Projected Line Combinations:
Forwards:
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Reilly Smith
Milan Lucic – Carl Soderberg – Seth Griffith
Matt Fraser – Chris Kelly – Loui Eriksson
Simon Gagne – Gregory Campbell – Daniel Paille
Extra Skater – David Pastrnak
Defense:
Dennis Seidenberg – Kevan Miller
Joe Morrow – Dougie Hamilton
Torey Krug – Zach Trotman
Extra Skater – Matt Bartkowski
Goal: (probable) Tuukka Rask
*Bruins have placed David Krejci (C), Zdeno Chara (D), Adam McQuaid (D), and David Warsofsky (D) on IR
Players to Watch:
Brad Marchand, LW
the little ball of hate is headed to the desert, and Arizona is going to need to keep an eye on him. Racking up two points in his last game (both on assists) and leading his team in goals scored, the left wing with a chip on his shoulder is determined to put this summer’s trade rumors behind him. He led the team last year in SH goals, so the best thing to do is try and draw him into a penalty — not let him serve on the penalty kill. He’s a notorious instigator, so the focus will need to be on keeping him from drawing penalties out of Arizona themselves; luckily, he’s also a highly-watched player for the linemen, so getting him in trouble is easier than most.
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Strength: penalty kill, playmaking
Weaknesses: known for scrappy play (spends a lot of time in the box), inaccurate shooter
Milan Lucic, LW
Known around the league as one of the biggest, meanest power forwards in the NHL, Milan Lucic is a force to be reckoned with. Forget the blocked shots Arizona is so known for — Lucic doesn’t like to shoot from far back. He’s best known for muscling his way through a team’s defensive corps and positioning himself by the net to catch any and all passes and rebounds that might swing his way. He’s also apparently highly sought-after by the Edmonton Oilers’ brass — and with the Bruins making it no secret that they’ve got their eye on right wing Jordan Eberle, Lucic could feel the pressure to perform and keep himself in Boston. He’s got one of the most notorious tempers in the league, so it’s easy to draw a penalty on him… but if you wait until he’s already in front of your net, you might as well put the puck in the back of the net yourself.
Strength: close-range scoring, physical play
Weaknesses: temper, far-range plays, slow-moving games
Torey Krug, D
Torey Krug was one of the two RFA’s Boston struggled to re-sign this summer — stuck with an obnoxiously cheap bridge deal, Krug is undoubtedly trying to prove his worth again this season. After being the only undrafted player named to the 2014 All-Rookie Team and leading the league’s rookie defensemen in scoring, Krug is back for what’s looking like an impressive sophomore season. He’s got a gift for weaving through players to find the back of the opposition’s net, but he’s abnormally small for a blue liner… with a reliance on outskating his opponents and blocking shots rather than bodies, Krug is a part of the new generation of defensemen reliant on brains rather than brawn. He’s been paired with 6-foot-3 Zach Trotman, but Trotman’s a call-up to replace a severely depleted blue line — things could get dicey for Krug if he can’t force turnovers.
Strengths: scoring, speed
Weaknesses: size, physical play
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