I came into this season worried about the top six forwards, and they are a big part of why the Bruins are 2-2-0 with some bad losses to start. The reality is that the fourth line is indeed the only offensive line playing to their identity.
The 2024–2025 Bruins’ identity to win a Cup can be summed up as an aggressive defense clearing guys out of the crease, paired with four offensive lines playing below the offensive faceoff dots.
So far, defenders like Hampus Lindholm have been giving up too much space and turning the puck over, while only one-quarter of the offensive unit is playing to the identity of physicality below the dots.
So, it’s hard not to understand what Jim Montgomery is feeling—and it’s a problem so early in the season, because inevitably the Panthers and other teams evolving into fast, forechecking giants are going to be in our way. Unless we play to this identity we’ve created with the talent we have, we’ll be a yawn of a daily watch for fans who already know what’s coming in April.
Discipline was not even briefed on yet either…
Flavin Media 
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