Through two games, the Boston Bruins have to be pleased with the performance of their top line.
David Backes, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak have been solid so far and they’ve combined to score all seven of the team’s goals in 2016-17.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, the rest of the forwards haven’t necessarily followed the top line’s lead.
The second line of David Krejci, Ryan Spooner and Danton Heinen hasn’t contributed very much in either of the first two games and the same could be said for the third line of Austin Czarnik, Matt Beleskey and Jimmy Hayes.
Head coach Claude Julien is satisfied with the work his fourth line has put in.
“The lines in between, you’re hoping you can get a little bit more,” Julien said, per the Boston Globe. “In Austin’s case, since he’s come back from the injury, he hasn’t quite been the same player. You hope he can find his stride again. Beleskey and Hayes have played hard. But no results. Right now, we probably need a little more from the Krejci line. You’ve got enough skill there that you hope it can give you a little more offense.”
With youngsters Czarnik and Heinen in their top nine, it’s normal that there’s some growing pains in Boston early on.
After Saturday night’s loss to the Leafs, Spooner admitted that he and his linemates may have to mix it up a little bit.
“For us as a line now, we’ve got to have someone who gets in front of the net,” admitted Spooner. “I think the three of us are kind of used to being the set-up guy on our line. I think one of us just needs to get to the front of the net. That should help for sure.”