Bruins sharpen finer points in dominant win as playoffs loom

Another night, another record for the 2022-23 Boston Bruins, who set a new NHL single-season record with their 133rd point of the campaign. 

Boston's 64th win of the season extended the other newly-minted record as "We want the Cup" chants rained down from the rafters of TD Garden. 

For Jim Montgomery, the Montreal kid, passing the dynastic 1970s Canadiens was special.

"I grew up watching those teams play," Boston's coach said. "The only tickets I could ever get was when they played the California Golden Seals or Washington Capitals, and it was always 11-0. That's how dominant they were. ... When I think of all the Hall of Famers on those teams, Scotty Bowman behind the bench and going to the old Montreal Forum ... it's significant because they were dominant hockey teams. 

Nevertheless, Montgomery is taking it all in stride.

"I mean, I don't know if it means anything different than what we've done all year," Montgomery said. "It's nice to get the record for points, but that Montreal team we passed did it in 80 games. I think the [63] wins in 80 games is a little more significant, but it's a good year. I care more that we're playing the right way."

Play the right way they did. Boston picked it up after what Montgomery called a "casual" first period checking-wise. 

There was Brad Marchand, getting off the goal-scoring schneid for the first time in 16 games. 

"You almost have to laugh about it," Marchand said. "It's one of those things. It gets frustrating, but then it gets to a point where, you know, it's just laughable. I can't take it too seriously. It got to the point where, you know, it's not the norm and I know that I have much better, bigger expectations."

In what has been a "down" year for Marchand with just 21 goals and 66 points in 72 games, coming off double hip surgery at 34 years old, mind you. If that's his valley, playing himself into shape after a major procedure, imagine the peaks if he can get fully back. 

He had a dominant night on the top line. Boston had a 26-7 shot attempt advantage at 5-on-5 with Marchand on the ice, and a 6-1 high-danger chance advantage, per Natural Stat Trick. He opened the game with his power play one-timer, and finished it with his hustle to set up Jake DeBrusk's empty-netter. 

Either way, it's still been frustrating for Marchand, whose goal and two assists also ended a seven-game run without a point. 

"There's definitely a lot of times where it was frustrating," he said. "Like I said, it was but after a while I start to just accept it and understand it's just one of those years where I might have to push through a little bit more adversity, which is fine."

Montgomery quipped he only sensed "just a little bit" of frustration from Marchand, "He's not very emotional or demonstrative."

Boston's depth has afforded the top-flight winger to continue to chase after his game as the playoffs approach.

"When you have the depth that we have and the ability to score the amount of goals that we have been and find different ways to win every night, it does take the pressure off," Marchand said. 

He later added, "You go through the lines. You look at our fourth line and tonight they were our first line with the plays they were making. When you can rely on a different line to step up each night and produce, it's tough to play against. A lot of teams have a couple lines, but we have four that can compete at a high level."

The depth was on full display in the third period when Tomas Nosek and the fourth line took over. Known for their defensive acumen, Nosek and Garnet Hathaway were opportunistic at key times. Nosek's goal and 100th career point were the eventual game-winning goal. His 101st came minutes later as one may have mistook it for Marchand to Patrice Bergeron on the first line when Hathaway buried Nosek's saucer pass on a 2-on-1. 

"I tried to make a pretty good play," Nosek said. "I saw the D sliding and tried to chip it over him, and Garnet put it in."

The two have been a constant pairing as two-thirds of the fourth unit since Boston acquired Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov from Washington in early February. The chemistry was quick to develop.

"It's been pretty good," Nosek said. "We've been playing together since the beginning, so I think it's been good. He's a hard guy. He goes hard on the forecheck, and I can easily read off him. It's been good so far."

Further down the list of elements of the Bruins' game that has picked up of late is the power play with goals on seven of its last 15 chances after enduring a 2011-level slump. A 2-for-2 night against the Capitals only increases the evident boost of confidence for the top unit. Whether it was Marchand's one-timer or Bertuzzi's whack of a rebound, the man-advantage has gotten back to what has made it one of the most formidable units in the NHL in recent years, being quick to retrieve pucks, being decisive with the puck and staying in constant motion to open up shooting and passing lanes. 

"I have zero concerns about our power play," Montgomery said. "Breakouts, entries, clean ... I don't know what we are in the last eight to 10 games, but I would bet we're around 30 percent."

In that 7-for-15 span, they're 46.67 percent. 

Part of the power play's success has been Tyler Bertuzzi's emergence as a net-front presence. The skilled winger has made a living around the crease.

"His willingness to screen the goalie [allows him to have success]," Montgomery said. "I mean that goal is he's screening the goalie, the puck hits his pad and the goalie can't find it or track it. So he hits it and slams it home. Also, his stick skills in tight are exceptional."

The acquisition from the Detroit Red Wings has a goal and five assists in his last three games as part of a 3-6--9 run in his last seven. Since arriving in Boston, Bertuzzi has four goals and 15 points in 20 games, matching his goal output and smashing his point total in nine fewer contests than with Detroit. He's been able to make an impact, no matter the line he's on.

"It took me a little bit to kind of get settled, but I'm getting back into the flow of playing. It's fun winning, and hopefully we can take this thing into the playoffs," Bertuzzi said. "It doesn't matter honestly [where I play]. I've played with a lot of guys on this team already, so you know, I feel comfortable with whoever I'm playing with."

It all makes for quite the cocktail for opposing teams to try to digest.

A top player appearing to have started finding his form, unheralded heroes helping lead the way to victory, special teams units clicking and trade deadline acquisitions catching fire late? Assuming full health, it sure sounds like a recipe for success once the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin early next week.