BOSTON — At first, the way the play was progressing, Elias Lindholm thought he might have to hustle back into the defensive zone. But Lindholm has quickly learned that Charlie Coyle, his new right wing after a promotion from the third line, excels at protecting the puck.
So even though Coyle was backtracking into the Boston Bruins’ zone with Connor McMichael on his back, Lindholm placed enough faith in his linemate to go on the attack.
“As soon as he turned to his forehand, I kind of took off,” said Lindholm. “It was a nice play by him going up the middle there.”
For the most part, Lindholm has had a regrettable first season in Boston. He had zero chemistry with David Pastrnak on the No. 1 line. His offense was slow to emerge on the second line.
But Lindholm’s hockey sense has held true even while his production has not. On Monday against the Washington Capitals, Lindholm processed that once Coyle shook McMichael and completed the turn, the puck might be coming his way. He was right.
Lindholm’s brain continued to fire. Instead of carrying the puck, he left it for a streaking Brad Marchand. Because of his decision, Lindholm initiated a two-on-one rush against a flat-footed Jakob Chychrun. After taking a return pass from Marchand, Lindholm got Charlie Lindgren to bite on his forehand, pulled a rolling puck to his backhand and tucked in the winning goal just before it skidded off his blade.
LINDY FOR THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/X5Up9WRfZr
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 24, 2024
“Decided kind of early I was going to fake and go back to the backhand there,” Lindholm said after the 4-1 win. “Obviously, nice pass by Marshy there. I was all alone there with the goal. Good to see it go in.”
Lindholm has three goals and two assists in the last five games. It is his best output during any five-game segment this year. He is up to 18 points, third most on the team. Lindholm’s $7.75 million average annual value is looking more reasonable.
“We were expecting that from Lindy,” interim coach Joe Sacco said of the center’s offensive presence. “He seems to be finding his game, as well, right now. These guys play a 200-foot game, but they want to get their offense going, too. Lindy’s an offensive player, too. When they start putting some points on the board, they feel better about themselves as individuals. They help the team more collectively as a group. He just seems to be finding his game.”
Sacco and predecessor Jim Montgomery have been satisfied with Lindholm’s defensive game. But a big reason Sacco and Montgomery have their current titles is Lindholm’s offensive wandering at the start of 2024-25.
Lindholm does not need the puck for long to make plays. But perhaps his biggest shortcoming was how scant his puck possession was while Montgomery was under fire.
It appears Lindholm has turned the page, both on Montgomery and his offensive nothingness. He is more visible now, in the middle of the action instead of on its edges.
And his emergence is coming at the right time.
“Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time to get used to everything,” Marchand said. “It’s not just on the ice. It’s off the ice, as well, for your family, moving into a new home and situation and trying to figure everything out. Sometimes you just don’t get the bounces. Sometimes they go your way. When they go your way, your confidence is high.
“He’s playing very well right now. Definitely seems to have that touch. It’s great to see. He’s a hell of a player and he’s going to be here for a long time.”
During Lindholm’s 12:28 of five-on-five play, the Bruins outshot the Capitals by a 6-0 margin, according to Natural Stat Trick. Lindholm won nine of 12 faceoffs. Dylan Strome, Lindholm’s most common opponent, didn’t put a single puck on net in 20:33 of ice time.
Lindholm logged 3:42 of short-handed time. That included multiple shifts during a five-minute kill at the beginning of the third period after Oliver Wahlstrom, replacing Pastrnak (upper-body injury) on the No. 1 line, was tossed for boarding Martin Fehervary.
“We gave up 11 shots tonight against a good hockey team,” Sacco said. “I know they played yesterday. But that’s a good hockey team over there, one of the better teams in the league. So there’s a commitment, a buy-in from our group. That’s why you see the results right now.”
Lindholm is more confident now. He feels like he belongs with the Bruins.
It’s about time.
