MONTREAL – Without question, the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak is the best in the NHL. It’s a fact after the first 45 games of the 2017-18 season. This trio dominates at both ends of the ice in a way no other line in the league can match.
Sure, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche all have impressive top lines, but it’s tough to rank them higher than Bergeron’s line and its overall performance.
Entering Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre, which extended Boston’s point streak to 16 games, the Bruins’ top line, along with defenseman Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy, combined for a plus-88.
PLUS-88.
That’s crazy to think about and it’s only game No. 45 of the season. That’s basically a plus-2 per game from that five-man unit. Considering all of their average ice times, which means the opponents have to spend the other 40 minutes trying to produce at least two even-strength goals against the other three lines to stay competitive.
That’s impressive.
“Their chemistry is at an all-time high right now,” said Bruce Cassidy.
That top line combined for a plus-6 against the Canadiens. Pastrnak had two goals and an assist, while Marchand had two assists and Bergeron added one.
“That’s a very, very good line. We get to see it every night,” added Cassidy. “Boy, they came through for us.”
That top trio is producing like Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Jarome Iginla did in 2013-14.
It also helps that McAvoy is usually on the ice, along with Chara, when the top line is playing. It basically makes that trio a four-man offensive threat. However, Cassidy had Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo on the ice with the top line for the majority of Saturday’s game. Cassidy wanted Chara and McAvoy matched against Alex Galchenyuk and Jonathan Drouin, or Max Pacioretty’s line. So, Krug and Carlo got the chance to play with the top line.
Krug was rewarded with his seventh goal of the season with assists going to Pastrnak and Marchand.
TOREY KRUUUUUUUUUUUG! KRUG FINDS TWINE, BRUINS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/0mpZOfCWIq
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) January 21, 2018
DAVID PASTRNAK WIRES HOME A WRISTER TO TIE IT AT 1! pic.twitter.com/3AEtbeiRrx
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) January 21, 2018