Bruins’ Elias Lindholm impressive start, owns three-game point spree to open season
One of the prized free agents the Bruins signed this offseason has been making an immediate impact on the team. Elias Lindholm has scored points in each of the Bruins first three games this season.
The 29-year-old scored a goal in the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Kings on Saturday afternoon. He tied the game at the 16:50 mark of the second period. Lindholm has two goals and three assists over the first three games.
His goal came off a rebound shot from Brad Marchand, following a four-on-four. Marchard came flying down the ice and fired a shot from the slot; Lindholm was there to finish the rebound.
“His instincts allow him to anticipate and jump and go the other way,” Montgomery said of Marchand to create a scoring opportunity. “Real smart shot, shooting it off the far pad to create a rebound if his shot didn’t go in.”
Montgomery said of his top-line center, Lindholm: “Marchy forechecked really well in the neutral zone, and nice job to make a good rebound for me. Obviously, one of those bounces that don’t go in very often, but today it did.”
Despite scoring in the win, Lindholm didn’t think he played his best game. While he contributed in a big way, he felt that there was more he could do for his teammates.
“It’s always nice to score goals and help the team that way,” Lindholm said, via NHL.com. “Tonight, I wasn’t very good. I got to be better than that, but I thought L.A. played well. Didn’t give us much room out there, and they were reloading really hard, so it was tough for us. But we stuck with it, and we found a way to win.”
Lindholm has been as advertised to open the season, and while he’s making an impression on fans, Marchand is equally leaving an impression on his new teammate.
“He’s had a really good career,” Lindholm said following the game on Saturday afternoon. “He’s one of the biggest competitors I’ve seen, practice, games, whatever. It’s huge for people to see that. He wears the ‘C’ for a reason, and I couldn’t think of a better guy to do it.”
Lindholm signed a seven-year contract with the Bruins this summer and has been on the top line with David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. The top signing has five points in his first three games wearing the Black and Gold.
