BOSTON — On Sunday, the Boston Bruins’ fourth line of Jeffrey Viel, Patrick Brown and Riley Duran was the team’s best trio during their 5-2 preseason-opening loss to the Washington Capitals. They attacked in straight lines, took no prisoners and gave their team life. Brown scored one of the team’s two goals off heavy forechecking heat from his linemates.
It does not say much about the rest of the team’s offensive presence.
It’s not necessarily a good thing when the fourth-line grunts carry the day. On Sunday, the only other offense the Bruins got was from No. 1 left wing Morgan Geekie off a broken offensive-zone play.
“Breakouts coming out of our end. And individual turnovers,” coach Marco Sturm said of his team’s shortcomings. “Those are things that just can’t happen. It got better in the third period. But we didn’t really play as a unit as well. I want to see us connect way better as a unit of five.”
The day before, the Bruins held a 30-minute scrimmage. Neither group scored.
Sturm isn’t worried about Geekie, Elias Lindholm and Viktor Arvidsson, who played as the No. 1 line. They are veterans whose goal-scoring jobs are secure.
That is not the case with second-liners Matej Blumel, Matt Poitras and Alex Steeves. Blumel and Steeves, both newcomers, played mostly in the AHL last year. Poitras, who made the Bruins out of camp the last two seasons, is not guaranteed a spot this year.
With that in mind, the second-liners, all desperate for NHL jobs, did not execute the way they would have preferred. Not only did they not produce, but also all three forwards were on the ice for three five-on-five goals against.
“Maybe today, the whole line, it was not the way they wanted,” said Sturm. “But I’m really confident those three guys will be better.”
Poitras drew three penalties. It showed he was on top of the puck. The 21-year-old’s challenge is to turn possession into plays.
Poitras, who had been practicing with Duran and Riley Tufte, was given two more offensive-minded wings in Blumel and Steeves. Blumel was on the No. 1 power-play unit. Steeves and Poitras shared time on the second unit.
The Bruins’ next game is on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. It may be a chance for Casey Mittelstadt to take a turn centering the second line. Mittelstadt started camp centering Steeves and Murat Khusnutdinov.
Shutdown duty for Lindholm-Peeke?
Charlie McAvoy is the Bruins’ slam-dunk No. 1 defenseman. He is a thorough defender, excellent with his feet and punishing when necessary with his checking.
That does not mean McAvoy will be Sturm’s go-to shutdown defender.
When it comes to identifying a matchup pair, Sturm’s eyes could train on Hampus Lindholm and Andrew Peeke. Lindholm is healthy after breaking his patella last year. Peeke, who helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 World Championship, has the physicality and mindset of a right-side brute.
“I heard a lot of good things, especially coming out of the World Championship, that he played like a man,” Sturm said. “He’s a big, strong presence. Right now, I really like that pair. Are they going to stay together? I don’t know. But they definitely had a good first two days.”
Sturm may also be wary about rolling Mason Lohrei, McAvoy’s partner, in defense-first situations. Lindholm is a more experienced and capable defender. He is stronger in battles and better with his stick.
Lohrei, in comparison, is geared more toward offense than Lindholm. Last year, Lohrei was skittish at times when it came to positioning and being hard on pucks in the defensive zone. Until Lohrei becomes more comfortable defending, it may be too much to ask him to assume shifts against opposing first lines.
“I don’t really care what happened in the past,” Sturm said. “I’m just going to look forward. I do want him to take care of our own end first. Because he has those tools, those offensive tools, to be effective. Lot of times, it’s just a bad habit. Some players, it’s just going to take a little bit longer to get out of it. But this is my job, our job as coaches, that we’re going to remind him, correct him and stay on top of it.”
Fourth line appears set
It is a shame, in a way, that the Viel-Brown-Duran unit was the Bruins’ best against the Capitals. The Bruins are satisfied with a fourth line of Mikey Eyssimont, Sean Kuraly and Mark Kastelic. The three veterans have been practicing together and are pleased with their company.
“It’s been a blast playing with those two,” said Kastelic. “I think we complement each other well out there. A little bit of experience with those two guys. They’ve been around a bit. They both play an honest, hard game. That’s something I really respect and appreciate. It’s been fun playing with them and building chemistry.”
DiPietro struggles
Michael DiPietro, last year’s outstanding goalie in the AHL, allowed five goals on 21 shots against the Capitals. He ceded the crease to Simon Zajicek in the second period. Zajicek stopped all six shots he saw.
DiPietro is competing with Joonas Korpisalo to be Jeremy Swayman’s backup. DiPietro needs to clear waivers to be assigned to Providence.
(Photo of Viktor Arvidsson taking a shot against Washington: Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)
