Jim Montgomery Has a Challenging Choice for Game One
The Bruins are fortunate to have arguably the deepest roster in the NHL as they approach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, presenting Jim Montgomery with some difficult choices.
There are numerous options to occupy the last four forward spots and three defensive positions, but who will be left out?
Who Remains in the Playoff Lineup?
Several depth players have proven their worth for a postseason spot throughout the season, such as Nick Foligno, Trent Frederic, Connor Clifton, and Derek Forbort.
Nonetheless, with new arrivals like Tyler Bertuzzi, Garnet Hathaway, and Dmitry Orlov, Montgomery's decision becomes even more challenging, though in a positive way. The Bruins' top two forward lines will have an abundance of options during the playoffs. Typically, Boston's top-six looks like this:
Marchand - Bergeron - DeBrusk
Zacha - Krejci - Pastrnak
When the team requires momentum or a goal, Montgomery often turns to the "Perfection Line," and both Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi can move up the lineup as needed.
Hall has previously demonstrated chemistry with David Krejci and David Pastrnak, but he has also played well with Charlie Coyle as his center. Since Hall's injury created room for Bertuzzi, they have not yet played together.
As Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald recently mentioned in a Twitter exchange with a fan, it's difficult to imagine Tomas Nosek being left out of the playoff lineup.
If Nosek, Foligno, and Hathaway secure spots, the Bruins' bottom-six could look like this:
Hall - Coyle - Bertuzzi
Foligno - Nosek - Hathaway
This scenario would leave Trent Frederic, who played in 71 of 74 games this season, out of the starting lineup for game one. Other possibilities include A.J. Greer and Jakub Lauko, who have been in and out of the lineup multiple times this season.
On defense, it's unlikely that Matthew Grzelcyk will make the top six. Forbot is an ideal player for the playoffs, while Brandon Carlo and Clifton have consistently demonstrated their value throughout the season.
As the host of the Line Changes podcast shared on Twitter, this is what the Bruins' defensive pairings should be:
Projected lineup for Game 1 of playoffs:
Marchand - Bergeron - DeBrusk
Zacha - Krejci - Pastrnak
Hall - Coyle - Bertuzzi
Foligno - Nosek - Hathaway
Orlov - McAvoy
Lindholm - Carlo
Forbort - Clifton
Do you agree?
| POLL | ||
30 MARS | 134 ANSWERS Jim Montgomery Has a Challenging Choice for Game One Who should be the 4th line center? | ||
| Nosek | 78 | 58.2 % |
| Frederic | 36 | 26.9 % |
| Greer | 7 | 5.2 % |
| Lauko | 13 | 9.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
