Bruins Adjustments

So far, so good as far as defensive play is concerned. Dennis Seidenberg has been doing a (literal) bang-up job on Ovechkin and the Caps have only produced 56 shots in almost 160 minutes of play. 

Offense is a different story, having scored only 2 goals in almost 8 periods of action. Here is how the lines break down:

1. Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin: 20 SOG in 21 mins. 

2. Lucic-Krejci-Peverley: 13 SOG in 24 mins. 

3. Rolston-Kelly-Pouliot: 12 SOG in 17 mins. 

4. Paille-Campbell-Thornton: 12 SOG in 12 mins. 

Line 3 has been indisputably the best, scoring both of the goals against Holtby and creating more legitimate chances. (Just goes to show what dynamic additions Rolston and Pouliot have made in the absence of Recchi and Ryder.) Line 1 has been fine, although it's disappointing that they haven't found the net in 8 periods, and even Line 4 has looked solid in limiting playing time. 

The problem is Line 2. Looch, Krejci and Peverley have given the Bruins nothing. This is born out in the numbers (fewest SOG per playing time, about 0.5 per minute) and also plain to see when they take the ice live. Stagnant is about the only way to describe it. 

My suggestion: Up the minutes for Rolston-Kelly-Pouliot. These guys have been playing great and bringing the biggest spark to the offense. Maybe Lucic-Krejci-Peverley play more efficiently with a little more time on the bench, maybe they continue underperforming. Either way, this team needs to find some way of generating an offensive spark and I love the way that third line is playing.