The Bruins’ first line, when it’s on top of its game, is one of the best in the NHL. When that line isn’t producing, however, the droughts are seemingly never-ending.
That top trio of David Krejci, Jarome Iginla and Milan Lucic is, like most of the Bruins, in a funk right now. That line has combined to score just one goal in the last six games, a stretch that has seen Boston go just 3-3. Krjeci, Iginla and Lucic are also featured on the club’s first power-play unit, which is struggling as well, as the Boston power play has gone 16 straight man-advantages without scoring.
The top line will get its latest chance to get going again on Thursday night against the Dallas Stars. The good news for the Boston first line is that the Stars aren’t exactly the league’s top defensive team. Dallas is 25th in the league in goals allowed per game and allowed 26 goals over the course of a recent six-game losing streak.
Here are the projected lines for the Bruins-Stars game in Dallas.
Bruins (29-15-2, 60 points)
Milan Lucic — David Krejci — Jarome Iginla
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — Reilly Smith
Carl Soderberg — Ryan Spooner — Loui Eriksson
Daniel Paille — Gregory Campbell — Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara — Johhny Boychuk
Torey Krug — Adam McQuaid
Matt Bartkowski — Kevan Miller
Stars (21-18-7, 49 points)
Jamie Benn — Tyler Seguin — Erik Cole
Antoine Roussel — Cody Eakin — Ryan Garbutt
Ryan Whitney — Vernon Fiddler — Alex Chiasson
Shawn Horcoff — Rich Peverley — Valeri Nichushkin
Alex Goligoski — Trevor Daley
Jordie Benn — Brenden Dillon
Kevin Connauton — Sergei Gonchar
