Taylor Hall is thriving on the Bruins third line
Photo Credit: Boston Bruins' Taylor Hall plays against the Washington Capitals during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP
For the Boston Bruins, the start of the 2022-2023 campaign has gone better than anyone could have expected. They have gotten contributions from every line and, of late, been carried by a familiar face in Taylor Hall. After a slow start, he has been one of the Bruins best skaters and regained his scoring touch.
Through 24 games, the Calgary native has 11 goals and nine assists. Hall also has four power-play points and four game-winning goals. With Hall in vintage form, Boston’s third line has been hard to keep off the scoreboard.
Hall has seven points in the Bruins' last four games, including five goals. In that span, he has two multi-goal games. The 31-year-old has terrorized opponents and been aggressive with the puck. In 402 minutes of ice time this season, he has posted a 16.4 shooting percentage. If the season ended today, that would be the second-highest total of his career.
While he has been a points machine, Hall is making an impact at both ends of the ice. The 2010 draftee has landed 14 hits and blocked 12 shots. He is not known for being a physical presence, but the Bruins left winger has not backed down from a challenge. Over the last two weeks, Boston has faced some of the best teams in the NHL, and Hall has taken his play to another level.
Although there is still plenty of hockey left, he is on pace to match his numbers from the 2021-2022 campaign. Last season the former first-overall pick had 20 goals. Hall already has 11 with 67 games left on the schedule. He is currently second on the team in goals and trails only David Pastrnak, who has 18.
With Hall at his best, the Bruins are not an ideal matchup for anyone. He has been hard to keep off the scoresheet and is making an impact every night. Due to his recent offensive surge, the Bruins third-line trio of Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Hall has at least one goal in four straight games.
While the regular season is far from over, the Bruins third line is turning into a strength. That has partly been due to the play of Hall, who is showing that a memorable 2022-2023 campaign may be in store.
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