With the amount of bright spots for the Boston Bruins this 2025-26 season, there is a trio that deserves more recognition than it’s getting. David Pastrnak is always going to be the star on Causeway Street, and his line will get tons of praise. But the Bruins’ second line of Casey Mittelstadt, Pavel Zacha, and Viktor Arvidsson deserves some as well.
The Bruins’ Second Line Giving What They Need
Coming into the season, you didn’t know what to expect from this team from an offensive standpoint. The Bruins during the 2024-25 season were inept at scoring goals and finished 27th in the league with 222. Finishing ability was lacking, and the team as a whole finished with a negative-14.78 goals scored above expected. They were heavily carried by Pastrnak and a career year by Morgan Geekie, who put together his first career 30-goal season.
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This season has been a bright spot for the Bruins. Overall, they do not have the strongest metrics during five-on-five play, but they do capitalize on the chances they get. Their finishing ability is much better, as they have the second-best goals scored above expected (17.28) and rank sixth in goals scored. One of the most successful lines in hockey has been the Bruins’ second line. The team finally has a line behind the top line that they can count on for goals and give the team an added layer of production.
For all line combinations that have played 150 minutes of total time on ice together, the line of Mittelstadt, Zacha, and Arvidsson ranks third in the league with 21 goals scored. Overall, they have an expected goals for percentage of 50.2%, and they’ve generated 14 expected goals. It’s not just the results; the ingredients that make this line are cooking well together, and they all bring different elements to it.
This Line Has All the Ingredients
One of the most successful lines in hockey came with question marks entering the season. Arvidsson entered the picture in a contract year and could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. You may often wonder what the future of a player like Zacha looks like and if the Bruins are going to extend him. They truthfully should, as he has been consistent for the club and has elevated his game to the next level. Mittelstadt brings depth, and with him being shifted to the winger position, he’s been much better than at center.
What makes this line special is that they do different things well, and it clicks. The chemistry is off the charts, and the results speak for themselves. Zacha is the line driver and has been effective in doing so. He’s also been a machine in the faceoff circle, winning 52.4% of his draws. Arvidsson is the bull in a china shop on this line. He’s tenacious on the forecheck, willing to go to the greasy areas to get pucks, and his board play is sensational. In addition, he has a shoot-first mentality and has scored 12 goals this season. As for Mittelstadt, he’s been great along the wall, and his playmaking skills are stellar. Shockingly enough, he has the highest shooting percentage among this trio at 20.4%.
This trio has combined for 86 points for the Bruins and has given them everything they’ve needed. You can say they’ve defied everyone’s expectations, and it’s been a delight to watch.
Bruins Depth Shining Brightly
This second line has been everything you could ask for if you are the Bruins. It’s given them depth and can also be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. They’ve provided the production they’ve been seeking and a bright spot that the league needs to shed light on more.
