Bruins’ Loaded D-Corps Could Inspire Rotation Similar To Last Season

The Boston Bruins, who are now one point behind the league-leading Vancouver Canucks, are leading the Eastern Conference in the NHL at the halfway point of the season.

With a 27-8-9 record, the Black and Gold have proven their critics wrong, despite the fact that many experts had predicted the Bruins to “fall off” before the season. Boston’s success has a straightforward explanation. Similar to the previous campaign, the Boston Bruins possess depth in all areas of the ice, particularly defense.

The first, second, and third pairings for the Bruins are occupied by Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, and Kevin Shattenkirk. In the second pairing, Brandon Carlo is almost always selected as Lindholm’s partner when he is well. Regretfully, for the Bruins,

Forbort has missed 20 games with a lower-body injury this season and was placed on long-term injured reserve in December. Forbort has skated in 20 games this season recording four assists while averaging 18:22 minutes of ice time. He is considered one of the best penalty killers on the team and with the Bruins averaging three or more infractions each game, his return to the lineup could be invaluable.

Prior to his injury, Carlo had not missed a game this season. In the midst of his best season, the right-shot defenseman has lit the lamp twice this season, adding eight assists to his scoresheet while averaging 20:17 minutes of ice time.

Coupled with the Forbort and Carlo injuries, Grzelcyk has also missed 13 games this season due to injury. Top defenseman McAvoy missed four games while serving the suspension he was given by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head against Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. McAvoy missed another four games with an upper-body injury.

The Bruins have used Lohrei and Wotherspoon to strengthen the lineup in light of all the ailments.

Despite the fact that Lohrei has played in ten more games than Wotherspoon, both defensemen have grown more assured and composed each time they play for the Bruins. Throughout their NHL careers in Boston, each have averaged more than 16 minutes of ice time. In 27 games, Lohrei has had three goals and three assists, while Wotherspoon, the Bruins’ self-described defensive defenseman, has three assists in 17 games.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said after practice on Friday that both Carlo and Forbort were getting close to returning to the lineup which could cause Boston’s bench boss to make tough decisions regarding playing time.

“They both feel a lot better,” Montgomery told reporters, per the team. “Specifically (Carlo and Forbort). We’ll see how they feel (Saturday), but it’s a lot more promising.

In the event that Carlo and Forbort return by the end of the All-Star break, Montgomery may decide to go with the defenseman rotation he used the previous year following the Bruins’ trade deadline acquisition of Dmitry Orlov from the Washington Capitals.

What the Bruins will do is unknown at this point. It’s not too bad to be in this situation, either, as there are too many good defensemen and not enough roster spots. especially considering that the group is getting ready to make another postseason push this spring.

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