Kastelic, fourth line giving Bruins much-needed scoring depth early on

Kastelic, fourth line giving Bruins much-needed scoring depth early on initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The Bruins acquired two gamers as a part of the Linus Ullmark trade with the Ottawa Senators again in June, and certainly one of them ranks amongst Boston’s finest gamers by way of the primary 4 video games of the season.

Veteran goalie Joonas Korpisalo got here to Boston within the deal. He started the season opener towards the Florida Panthers and will likely be Jeremy Swayman’s backup.

The opposite participant the Bruins received within the commerce was middle Mark Kastelic, and he’s making a powerful impression at each ends of the ice along with his new group.

The fourth line of Johnny Beecher at left wing, Cole Koepke at proper wing and Kastelic at middle has been a power for head coach Jim Montgomery over 4 video games. Not solely is that this group throwing hits, blocking pictures, successful faceoffs and combating exhausting for actual property within the robust areas of the ice, it is also producing at a excessive fee offensively.

Kastelic has been the first driver of that scoring with two goals in a win over the Montreal Canadiens last week, after which he picked up three assists versus the Florida Panthers in Monday afternoon’s game at TD Backyard. He helped arrange all of Boston’s targets in a 4-3 loss, together with this tally by Brandon Carlo within the second interval.

“I feel with every sport we’re creating chemistry, and on the identical time, we’re getting numerous our success by enjoying easy and enjoying the best way that received us to this stage, enjoying with numerous velocity,” Kastelic mentioned after Monday’ loss. “It has been enjoyable enjoying with these guys, they’re nice gamers.”

Kastelic is not simply making his mark on the scoresheet. He is additionally successful a powerful 56.7 p.c of his faceoffs. Profitable attracts is certainly one of his finest expertise, and it is one the Bruins badly wanted after rating twenty first out of 32 groups in faceoff win proportion final season. Kastelic is a reliable middle to take necessary attracts late in video games and on the penalty kill.

The Panthers had been successful extra faceoffs early in Monday’s sport, however the Bruins finally turned it round and ended up successful 33 to Florida’s 32.

“Now we have numerous good faceoff guys within the room,” Kastelic mentioned. “So I feel even after we’re struggling we are able to flip it round with simply how good our guys are.”

The Bruins’ fourth line of Beecher, Koepke and Kastelic is enjoying easy, good and bodily hockey. In some ways, they’re carrying the group proper now.

Kastelic is tied for the group lead in scoring with 5 factors (two targets, three assists). Beecher has 4 factors (one objective, three assists) and Koepke has 4 factors (one objective, three assists). Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak are the one different B’s forwards with greater than two factors by way of 4 video games. The highest-six is just not producing sufficient offensively.

The fourth line can be enjoying exhausting with out going over the sting and costing the group with unhealthy penalties. Kastelic and Beecher haven’t taken a minor penalty by way of 4 video games. Koepke has taken just one. This line didn’t lose its self-discipline towards the Panthers on Monday. The same can’t be said for many of their teammates.

“Actually proud of the underside six. The fourth line has been very, very spectacular,” Montgomery mentioned postgame. “They’re simply doing their function. The fellows within the prime six aren’t doing their function.”

It is nice for the Bruins that they’ve discovered a fourth line with a transparent identification and good chemistry. However for this group to satisfy its lofty expectations, the top-six forwards have to indicate numerous enchancment.

“They have been unbelievable,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand mentioned postgame when requested in regards to the bottom-six forwards. “It is nice to see the best way they compete and convey it each evening. The remainder of us should take a web page out of their e book and be rather a lot higher. They’re undoubtedly carrying the load proper now.”