McAvoy was out last weekend with an LBI as well, wasn't he? Could have just been a long week after being banged up catching up with him a bit.
I actually think Haula is good, and has been better recently. I agree that Pasta and Hall would be likely to produce even if one of us was centering them, but Haula has looked really good since the break, and is showing way more explosiveness than I remember him showing before. He obviously isn't Krejci, but I think he's adding to those two more than he is holding them back.
Yes McAvoy was dinged up enough to miss the games against the Wild and the Lightning. Hopefully it won’t be a nagging injury.
McAvoy has reached the level where he can play well with anyone (Gryz, Forbort, Reilly, Zboril, Vaak). I hope they keep Vaak with him while Gryz is on the Covid layaway plan. McAvoy is so steady and, like Chara before him, players like Vaak and Zboril can loosen their grip a little bit and try and play to their own strengths when they’re paired with Charlie. Invaluable reps.
While I agree that Pasta and Hall are clicking so well that Nosek would be fine inbetween the two of them I join you in liking what I’ve seen from Haula in the past half dozen games. There was a play last night (I think it might have been in the 2nd period) where Hall and Pasta were doing their thing and Haula accelerated through the middle and was wide open for a pass between the dot and the crease. The pass didn’t happen but if he keeps going to those spaces it’s going to open up all sorts of opportunities for the 2nd line. Could the Bruins do better for a 2L center? Sure. But so far this is working out better than expected.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but the news about Forbort is good. The B’s need a few more experienced Ds back on the ice. As long as he is stapled to the 3rd pairing that‘ll be ok. And I’d like Forbort to be able to relieve Bergy of his new enforcer role.