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Vegas Golden Knights: Three keys to bossing the Boston Bruins

By Andrew Steele-Davis

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 03: Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) skates up the ice during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on October 03, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 03: Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) skates up the ice during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on October 03, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 05: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammate Matt Grzelcyk #48 after his goal against the Arizona Coyotes as David Pastrnak #88 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Bruins skate in during the first period at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 05: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammate Matt Grzelcyk #48 after his goal against the Arizona Coyotes as David Pastrnak #88 and Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Bruins skate in during the first period at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Shutting down B’s top line

We’ve mentioned it a lot already but if the Vegas Golden Knights have any chance of getting the better of the Boston Bruins tonight, then they are going to have to put the shackles on one of the best lines in all of hockey.

Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have developed incredible chemistry and the trio are capable of dismantling a team on their own. They do a little bit of everything and combine speed, skill and a clinical touch with defensive smarts and physicality.

They combined for 260 points in 2018-19 with Marchand reaching the 100 point plateau for the first time in his career.

That line has been slow out of the gates so far this year with only Bergeron and Marchand registering a point each, while Pastrnak has yet to open his account in 2019-20.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 05: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 and Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes look for the puck while defending Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 05: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 and Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Arizona Coyotes look for the puck while defending Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena on October 05, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /

However, Boston’s top line is oozing with talent and game-changing ability and in Pastrnak they have an elite sniper and playmaker who hasn’t even reached his prime yet. He recorded 38 goals and 43 assists for 81 points last year and he boasts a deadly release in his armoury.

So, it is a case of when and not if that top line gets going so the Vegas blueline, without the injured Nate Schmidt (lower body injury) will need to play a complete game to make sure they aren’t the victims of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak finally putting it all together.

And Marc-Andre Fleury, who has stopped 55 of the 57 shots fired at him so far this year, will need to be dialled in early to make sure that he stops any traffic that is fired at his net.

If the Golden Knights can shutdown Boston’s most potent line then they will give themselves a tremendous chance to win the game.

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