Given his penchant for tinkering, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery will likely have played just about every possible line combination before the season is out.
But the unit of Trent Frederic between James van Riemsdyk and Danton Heinen played well enough Thursday to earn an encore performance together.
“Really pleased,” Montgomery said. “They played a big heavy game.”
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The veteran trio turned that heavy, physical performance into three goals and two assists in the Bruins’ 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
Frederic’s goal that stretched the lead to 4-1 was the highlight. Heinen banked the puck off the boards to get it out of the zone to start the rush. Van Riemsdyk collected it and slid a pass left-to-right across the slot forcing Blue Jackets goalie Spencer Martin to move laterally to recover.
Frederic used the goalie’s momentum against him and shot the puck back into the far side of the net with 4:06 left to seal the win.
“That goal that extended the lead was huge for us,” Montgomery said. “For Freddy to have the poise to hold it and shoot across the grain while the goalie slides across is an intelligent confident play.”
Van Riemsdyk echoed his coach.
“It was a goal-scorer’s goal to go far side there. That’s not an easy shot to make,” he said. “That was a hell of a finish by him.”
Van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists in the game giving him seven goals and 18 assists since signing with the Bruins in the offseason. The 34-year-old is on pace for a career-high in assists, although he thinks his reputation as being more of a goal scorer than a passer isn’t accurate.
“Over the years, while people would consider me more of a goal scorer, I think in my career my assist-to-goal ratio is pretty even,” he said. “This year it’s a little more exaggerated, but that’s just how it goes.”
He’s right, at least statistically. The former Maple Leaf and Flyer entered the game with 305 goals and 305 assists.
“I’m obviously happy to contribute any way I can. The team’s been winning. That’s the most important thing,” he said. “If you’re disciplined on the details, you get rewarded statistically. It’s always nice to chip in some points in a win.”
Montgomery was glad to see him score a goal.
“Really good for him to get a goal,” he said. “It’s been a while since he had a goal, but he’s been contributing to our team game every night. He’s smart. He gets in the right areas.”
The success of Heinen and Van Riemsdyk represents a win for Don Sweeney too. Forced to bargain shop during the offseason because of salary cap restraints, he got both for sizable bargains. Van Riemsdyk makes just $1 million, while Heinen makes even less as both are outplaying their paycheck values.
Heinen has five goals and seven assists and is playing regular minutes. Not bad for a guy who had to start the year on a professional tryout agreement.
Frederic set career highs last year with 17 goals and 14 assists and is on pace to eclipse that easily with 10 goals and nine assists through 19 games.
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