Bruins Notebook: Bruce Cassidy not ready to break up top line

For two games, the Bruins got all the second-line scoring they could have hoped for in back-to-back 5-2 wins over the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.

But through 15 games, and especially after their anemic shutout loss to the Calgary Flames, those two games seem more like an exception to the rule. If the top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have a rare bad game, as it did on Sunday against the Flames, then the B’s seem to have little chance of a win.

It makes you wonder sometimes whether that line — still inarguably one of the best lines in hockey — is a luxury the B’s can no longer afford, especially now with David Krejci back home in the Czech Republic. Perhaps a Craig Smith or Nick Foligno could bump up to play with the time-tested pairing of Marchand and Bergeron. Could that create a more dynamic second line that features wingers Pastrnak and Taylor Hall together around center Charlie Coyle?

Asked whether he’s thought about breaking up that line any more this year in light of the spotty secondary scoring, coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t rule it out. In fact, he expects to do some tinkering at some point. But Cassidy said now is not the time.

“I’ve always said I’ll do it when we’re healthy and there’s somebody who can go up there,” said Cassidy on Monday. “At the start of the year, Coyle was our second-line right wing because we didn’t have any right wingers. So we weren’t going to do it then. We’re just starting to get healthy. Smitty just had his first games where he was truly healthy. Foligno’s just come back. So it won’t happen till those guys are going.

“I think that line really complements each other well, even though you could say ‘They could play anywhere.’ Well, of course they could. But they do a good job of complementing each other. We’re trying to build some chemistry on other lines. So now you’re taking away from the one constant to fix something else. Let’s get every line to where we need to be and then we can start moving them around to see if it balances us better. That’s always been my thought process. … It’ll probably happen at some point. I just want to make sure it’s the right time.

“Right or wrong, that’s just the way I’ve tried to do it on moving (Pastrnak) off of there because it is a dangerous line and you have to make sure whoever’s going in there is up to the task as well. I’ve thought over the years we’ve had some that have done well by that line. I think Danton Heinen was a guy who could go up on that well and complement it at times, and Smitty last year. Other guys we’ve put up there weren’t able to keep it going.”

There is no guarantee of more widespread production if Pastrnak is moved elsewhere. But if the better teams in the league continue to shut down the B’s, they may have no choice but to look at their lineup differently.

B’s need more out of Haula

Speaking of secondary scoring, or lack thereof, Erik Haula scored his first goal of the season against New Jersey on Nov. 13, but it did not open the floodgates for him. In the three games since then, he has one primary assist.

Haula was part of the B’s offseason free agent spending spree, signing a two-year deal worth $2.375 million annually. He also had a strong training camp and exhibition season. But now he has just a goal and two assists in 15 games, which is not enough. How can more production be squeezed out of the third-line center?

“We’re still getting to know Erik, he’s still getting to know us, so I don’t think there’s an automatic answer,” said Cassidy. “Usually when you’re in position to receive passes, you use your speed through the neutral zone and that’ll help open up offense. A good example was Smitty’s goal (in Philadelphia on which Haula assisted). We broke out in the right spots and we’re going as a group. I think it’s a little more of a line rush line with (Jake) DeBrusk and Smith when he’s out there. Obviously when that happens you’ve got to fill three lanes and get the puck at the right time to get attacking. That’s an important part, so that’s a five-piece combination. Offensive zone play, you’re starting to see that fourth line combination starting to generate because they know where each other are.”

Cassidy said some of the ask of that third line as a whole will be to create more off the forecheck.

“We’ve been asking for some of those O-zone situations out of Jake for a while now, so you’ve got three new bodies working together and they’re going to have to buy into that and we’re going to have to do a better job of getting them to accept it. That’s hockey a lot of nights against good checking teams. They’re not going to give that neutral zone stuff,” said Cassidy.

Swayman back to work

After a rough outing on Sunday, goalie Jeremy Swayman was one of two Bruins who took to the ice on Monday, the other being the rehabbing Trent Frederic. Cassidy is not concerned about the rookie’s confidence.

“Goalies have to put things behind them. They’re going to have good outings, they’re going to have a few that aren’t great and they have to recognize what they have to do better and move on. That’s the position. For us, (goalie coach Bob Essensa) goes through every game, scoring chances and situational stuff with the goalies and working on just getting better,” said Cassidy. “I think his confidence will be fine. If it was three or four in a row, that’s when you start worrying about the young guys. It hasn’t been. He’s been solid. He had a couple of rebounds I’m sure he’d like to have back that he’s going to have to work to control … in general, the rebound control will be discussed. That’s an issue with every young goalie. (Daniel) Vladar went through that for them but we just weren’t on top of it quick enough or funnel enough to expose those areas.”

Meanwhile, Tuukka Rask was again on the ice earlier in the day as he continues his rehab from hip surgery. He’s expected to be ready to play again sometime after the New Year. If the B’s continue to get spotty performances from their tandem, it’s hard to imagine the club not offering the free agent a contract when he’s ready to play.