FINAL SCORE: Bruins 4, Wild 0
FROM HAGGERTY
If Charlie Coyle is trying to audition for the Bruins, he’s not exactly lighting it up for Bruins management. A shot on net, a minus-1 and 5-of-12 in the face-off circle in 15:32 of ice time for the pride of Weymouth, who has been mentioned pretty prominently on the trade block over the last few months. He’s a pretty good player, but nights like tonight seem a little too commonplace to fit the B’s, who are in need of somebody that can come in and be a difference-maker. Maybe they end up with each other in the end because it makes the most sense of any deals out there, but I really think the B’s should be setting their sights a little higher.
A goal, three points and six shot attempts for Patrice Bergeron, who also had a total of 12:14 of ice time in what certainly looked like a clear attempt to rest the franchise center a little bit given how much he’s played since coming back from injury. These are the benefits of a four-goal cushion very early in a game and the best way to get some rest for a workhorse player like Bergeron, who has been going at it pretty hard for the Black and Gold since coming from an injury.
It was just a full-out team effort for the Bruins in jumping out to a four-goal lead and outshooting the Wild 20-18 through the first two periods. Four forwards from three different lines scored goals, the B’s power play got it going toward the end of the first period, and the active defense was making things happen in a couple of the cases. All four goals were also scored by forwards going to the front of the net and it really feels like the B’s offense is operating at close to full efficiency right now. Credit the forwards for doing the dirty work, and the defensemen for activating and pushing, so that the pressure has been squarely on a Minnesota club with no skating legs tonight.
Bruins defenseman John Moore notched a pair of assists on each of the first two Bruins goals, which gives him his first multi-point effort in a B’s uniform. Moore has never been a huge points guy, but if he can push the offense a little bit and step up in certain situations, it could go a long way toward making the B’s even more dangerous as an offensive group. Once even the stay-at-home guys are stepping up to pinch and become extra attackers, the Bruins really could punish opponents with long possessions in the offensive zone.
Just 4:59 of ice time for Ryan Donato through two periods, as the kid line of Danton Heinen, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Donato hasn’t played much in this game despite a commanding lead for the Minnesota Wild. At least JFK and Heinen have played a couple more shifts with some special teams work thrown in there for good measure. As it is Donato doesn’t have a shot on net and really has once again faded to the background a little bit as a potential offensive force at the NHL level.
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BRUINS RECORD: 25-14-4 (54 points), 3rd in Atlantic Division
BERGY’S DEFLECTION MAKES IT 4-0
LET DEBRUSK GET SOMETHING OFF HIS CHEST . . .
MARCHAND MAKES IT 2-0
HEINEN GETS THE TIP-IN
UP NEXT
THURSDAY: vs. Washington, 7 p.m. (NESN)
SATURDAY: at Toronto, 7 p.m. (NESN)
MONDAY: vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)
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