Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Bruins man advantage has been on fire lately, snapping games open when five-on-five gets tight.
That heater matters, because Boston has leaned on special teams to steal points during a messy stretch.
Now Lindholm is considered day-to-day, and he’s out, so the top unit had to be rebuilt fast.
Marco Sturm didn’t overthink it, he replaced the role, not the name.
Steve Conroy reported Arvidsson bumps up to PP1 at the net front, with Pavel Zacha sliding into the bumper spot.
Arvidsson at the net front is a clear choice, because he’s willing to stand in cross-check country and take punishment for tips and rebounds.
It also keeps the puck-moving core intact, which is the whole reason the power play has been rolling.
Zacha in the bumper changes the reads.
He’s going to touch the puck more, and his timing between the circles becomes a real trigger instead of a safety valve.
Matthew Poitras just got a power play audition
Bruins fans are equal parts excited and nervous, because any time a kid gets PP time, you’re either getting a spark or a lesson.
With Arvidsson moving up, Matthew Poitras slides onto PP2, and that’s a loud vote of trust for a fresh call-up.
Poitras is 21, drafted in 2022 in the second round by the Boston Bruins, and he hasn’t played an NHL game for Boston this season.
This is how you make a name without scoring five-on-five.
If he keeps his touches simple, the second unit can actually look dangerous instead of just eating time.
If he forces plays, he’ll be back on the bench in a heartbeat.
The real test is whether Boston’s top unit keeps its rhythm without Lindholm’s steady presence.
The Bruins don’t need perfection, they need the power play to stay terrifying while they wait for Lindholm’s next update.
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