Bruins (3-1-0 without Brad Marchand) may be better when he returns

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has one more game to serve on his five-game suspension. Initially, it was thought to be bad timing for his antics that led to the supplementary discipline by the NHL. The team was in the midst of a 17-game point streak and his line was the best in the league.

Well, the Bruins are 3-1-0 in Marchand’s absence. Believe it or not, his hiatus could actually make the team stronger once he returns to the lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Wait. What? Stronger?



Yes. Here’s why: With Marchand out, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have been keying more on each other as a pair and not necessarily as a three-man unit. At first, Anders Bjork was on that line for the first period of the first game of Marchand’s suspension, but since it’s been Danton Heinen on Bergeron’s left side. Heinen has done a terrific job in that role, but it’s evident that Bergeron and Pastrnak have been making more plays as a pair.

Heinen recorded two assists in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and his 200-foot game proved crucial, but not having Marchand on that wing forces more of the focus to Bergeron and Pastrnak.

“It gives you a different feel, a different look for the line,” admitted Bergeron. “Maybe some plays are more on the right side on the breakouts. Yeah, we’ve been working on a lot of plays, but (Heinen) has stepped in and he’s been really good. He’s making great plays and forcing turnovers, but Pasta has been really good all year, but having Marchy out we’ve worked on a few more little things. We see each other a little more than we were before.”

Once Marchand returns, it should kick the entire line into hyperdrive for the stretch run. Getting more production from that top line is almost unimaginable given its success pre-suspension, but it will increase.

“It can always help,” Bergeron said. “You always want some more chemistry, some more plays and more cohesion – I’m all for that.”

Pastrnak and Bergeron have played together long enough to know each other’s tendencies. At times, when Pastrnak gets too cute offensively and makes a mistake, his linemates have recovered for him. It’s also no coincidence he’s been better defensively during Marchand’s hiatus.

“We’ve played together for awhile and we already have that chemistry and we know what to expect from each other,” Pastrnak told BostonSportsJournal.com. “We try to make each other better and it’s good that we’ve found some more chemistry right now. It’s a lot of fun to play with Bergy.”

Let’s face it: the Bruins are a damn good team. They’ve become a playoff contender with the ability for a deep run this spring. Many around the league were probably happy when Marchand received his suspension. On second thought, the rest of the league should be worried because once he returns the Bruins will only be that much better.

Boston finished the 2013-14 season with a 54-19-9 record for 117 points. The 2017-18 version of the Bruins are better as currently constituted. If they can get back to a more balanced attack, they have a real shot at going deep.

“We have a great group and we’re having fun,” Pastrnak said. “The point streak helped us and we’ve become closer, tighter as a group. We now know what it takes to get better at it.”

It’s only going to get better once No. 63 returns.