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Projecting Bruins lineup for Game 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs: Who’s in? Who’s out?
The Bruins have several lineup decisions to make before the playoffs beyond the choice in net.
Jim Montgomery and his staff have some decisions to make.
With 10 games left on the regular-season docket, the Bruins are in the process of building their game for the gauntlet that awaits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
And while it remains to be seen who Boston will battle in the first round of the postseason, the Bruins also need to determine which 19 players to roll out for Game 1 in late April.
With this Bruins roster filled with rookies, under-the-radar signings, and a rotating cast of bottom-six contributors, Boston’s lineup remains in a state of flux at this juncture of the season.
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Here’s our first projected Bruins lineup for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk
No need to overthink this one. When they’re playing at a high level, this trio gives Boston arguably its best two-way line — capable of snuffing out scoring chances and landing punches down the other end of the ice.
Charlie Coyle is still on a 26-goal, 63-point pace, while Jake DeBrusk has been on a heater as of late with five goals and 12 points in his last 10 games.
One thing worth monitoring is Marchand, who seems to be fighting the puck over the last few weeks. Boston’s captain has just one goal over his last 15 games — and has now gone 30 games without a power-play tally.
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The Bruins will need Marchand to get back into a goal-scoring groove before the playoffs — while also hoping that DeBrusk continues his post-deadline surge.
But there’s little reason to tinker with this line, with Boston outscoring opponents, 13-8, over this group’s 256:13 of 5-on-5 ice time.
Danton Heinen – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
After some uneven play, Zacha seems to have sparked some chemistry once again with his Czech countryman in Pastrnak. Zacha has scored five goals and posted 11 points in his last 10 games, while an offensive conduit like Pastrnak will be able to drive play with just about anyone.
The top question on that line is who slots in at left wing, with James van Riemsdyk, DeBrusk, and Danton Heinen all earning steady reps in that top-six role.
While the underlying numbers have been positive with DeBrusk on that grouping, the Bruins shouldn’t move around DeBrusk, given his strong returns of late.
Van Riemsdyk’s game has dipped as of late (zero goals, one assist in his last 14 games), with Heinen standing as the safest pick thanks to his two-way play and ability to play with a bit more pace than van Riemsdyk.
James van Riemsdyk – Morgan Geekie – Trent Frederic
Both Geekie and Frederic are locks for regular spots on Boston’s third line. But the rest of Boston’s bottom-six grouping remains up in the air, with questions regarding the health of Pat Maroon and van Riemsdyk’s sustained slide offering little clarity for this segment of the lineup.
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Even with van Riemsdyk’s dip in production (and an extended illness that has sidelined him for a few weeks), the big-bodied forward has been effective next to a pair of other puck-possession forwards in Frederic and Geekie.
In the 93:27 of 5-on-5 ice time that the JVR-Geekie-Frederic line has logged this season, the Bruins hold a 38-14 edge in high-danger scoring chances.
But if van Riemsdyk continues to struggle, a power forward currently exceeding expectations in Justin Brazeau should warrant a shot next to Frederic and Geekie.
Beyond this recent surge in production (four goals, five points in three games), Brazeau’s board work, 6-foot-5 frame, and hands paint the picture of a bottom-six stalwart who could make an impact in the postseason.
Johnny Beecher – Jesper Boqvist – Justin Brazeau
Expect this grouping to change as we roll out a few more of these lineup projections. Plenty can change between now and late April with this line, especially given Maroon’s recovery from back surgery and the potential for a lineup promotion for Brazeau.
For now, we’ll opt for the safe pick here with the Beecher-Boqvist-Brazeau grouping — a checking unit that has outscored opponents, 2-0, in their 20:15 of 5-on-5 reps together.
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If Maroon does get cleared for game action next month and is able to play in the postseason, the veteran’s physicality, veteran mettle, and underrated playmaking (16 points in 49 games) will come in handy for the playoffs.
But it does create a conundrum for the rest of Boston’s fourth line. Unless he hits a wall in the coming weeks, Brazeau shouldn’t be taken out of the lineup, while Beecher’s faceoff skills (54.7%) make him a valuable asset during D-zone draws.
Beecher could slot over to center if Maroon does return, but Montgomery has liked the speed and production (13 points in 37 games) that Boqvist has provided down the middle.
Ultimately, this checking unit could be reshuffled multiple times during the playoffs — with Montgomery given the freedom to prioritize speed or size depending on whichever matchup the Bruins are facing.
DEFENSE
Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy
It hasn’t been the sharpest season for Grzelcyk, who also faces questions every spring about how his game translates to the physical toll that awaits in the playoffs.
But for all the talk of another puck-mover like Mason Lohrei getting a featured role next to McAvoy, keeping Grzelcyk and McAvoy together offers the safest option for Boston’s top pairing.
In the 544:31 of 5-on-5 ice time that the Grzelcyk-McAvoy pairing has logged this season, the Bruins hold a 23-12 advantage in goals scored.
A crisp transition player like Grzelcyk has usually served as a perfect partner for McAvoy — with his split-second processing and quick feet often creating easy D-zone exits and easing some of the heavy lifting asked of McAvoy during draining shifts.
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
No need to overthink this one, either.
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Lindholm-Carlo stands as the duo often handed the lion’s share of draining D-zone minutes and daunting matchups on this roster — with just 22.9% of this pairing’s faceoffs starting in the offensive zone.
Even with those unenviable defensive assignments, the Bruins have still outscored opponents, 28-19, in this duo’s 631:13 of 5-on-5 reps.
Their shifts may not always be pretty, especially when frantically defending in their own zone. But Lindholm and Carlo’s ability to eat up minutes and keep teammates like McAvoy away from those same taxing assignments make them extremely valuable.
Again, if it ain’t broke…
Parker Wotherspoon – Andrew Peeke
Montgomery and the Bruins do have options when it comes to adding more playmaking on their blue line with both Lohrei and Kevin Shattenkirk.
But in the meat grinder that is playoff hockey, we have the Bruins opting for snarl over style with a pair of meat-and-potatoes defensemen in Parker Wotherspoon and Andrew Peeke.
Even though both skaters aren’t flashy, they both fit the profile of what plenty of teams covet in the postseason when it comes to third-pairing D-men. When Wotherspoon and Peeke are operating at a high level, they’re playing simple hockey, clearing bodies away of the netfront, and eating up pucks.
GOALTENDER
Linus Ullmark
We examined this more here, but it’s hard to ignore the stats when it comes to Ullmark and his viability as Boston’s Game 1 starter.
Even with a lackluster showing from Ullmark during Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Flyers, Ullmark has provided stronger returns over the last month — with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner 3-1-1 over his last five games with a .938 save percentage.
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Since the All-Star break, Jeremy Swayman is sporting a .902 save percentage in his last 12 games — with the 25-year-old netminder relinquishing 12 goals over his last nine periods of hockey.
In a perfect scenario, the Bruins roll with both Ullmark and Swayman in net during the playoffs. But Boston still needs to determine which goalie gives it the best option to win in Game 1.
And for now, Ullmark gives Boston the best shot out of the gate.
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