Matt Poitras’ journey with the Bruins has been a bit of a rollercoaster. For a while, the team wasn’t sure about putting him on a top line with superstars like Brad Marchand or David Pastrnak. Instead, he spent most of his time with different third-line wingers, which meant he didn’t face the toughest defenders but also didn’t get to play with the most skilled players.
But after a tough loss to Ohio State on Saturday, interim coach Joe Sacco decided it was time for a change. He moved Poitras up to the top line with Marchand and Charlie Coyle, while struggling forward Elias Lindholm dropped to the third line. At first, the new trio had a little trouble getting in sync, but when it really mattered, they came through big time.
With the Bruins down 3-2 in the third period, Marchand carried the puck along the right wing and fed it to Poitras, who was already ready for the pass. Poitras quickly switched from his forehand to backhand and made a perfect pass to Coyle, who scored to tie the game with just over 10 minutes left.
Then, with just under 6 minutes to go, Poitras set up another goal for Coyle. As Poitras entered the zone, he was surrounded by two defenders, but instead of forcing a play, he calmly passed it to Coyle, who fired a shot from a tough angle. The puck hit the goalie’s leg and bounced into the net, giving the Bruins the lead.
Coach Sacco was pleased with the new line’s performance. “Matty helped transport the puck through the neutral zone, and that’s what we wanted from him,” Sacco said. “He showed speed, he got the puck to Charlie, and Charlie scored. Defensively, Matty was solid. It was a balanced line, and I think they can build on this.”
Thanks to those two crucial goals, the Bruins went on to win 6-3, adding two more empty-net goals to seal the deal.
Poitras’ two assists in the game brought his total to three points in just three games since his call-up from Providence. Coyle was impressed with his young teammate’s growth. “Potsy is a great player,” Coyle said. “He’s still young, but you can see him getting better and more confident. He’s skilled, he’s smart, and he was huge for us tonight. That’s the kind of play we need.”
