Trent Frederic logged two assists while skating with Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle in the Boston Bruins’ 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night at TD Garden.
The first line winger is Trent Frederic.
Although he may not have been able to say it with easy in previous seasons, the Boston Bruins forward has established a fierce, solid, and consistent persona for himself in Jim Montgomery’s starting lineup this year.
The Bruins lost 3-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night at TD Garden due to a goal scored late in the third quarter. Brad Marchand scored Boston’s two goals, though, and Frederic, who was promoted to the first line, contributed assists on both goals.
The 25-year-old began the game with Morgan Geekie and Jakub Lauko on the third line, but Montgomery changed things up by moving Frederic to the right flank, where David Pastrnak had been, due to a lack of attacking spark. Charlie Coyle stayed in the middle.
There wasn’t much going on in the lines. I pushed Frederic up there because I thought he was skating good,” Montgomery stated on Wednesday. “Every line had a physical and fast element, and that’s what I wanted to accomplish.”
But it wasn’t an arbitrary action. This season, Frederic’s body of work has indicated a change in his role with the Bruins. With 47 games played, Frederic has 13 goals and 14 assists, which is four points short of his 2022–23 total of 31. In addition, he has five points in the previous five games and averages 13:40 of total ice time. He has also been a part of the second power play unit.
“I wasn’t seeing much in my first hundred games, if I may say so. Regarding his progress, Frederic remarked on Wednesday, “just kind of working hard and skating.” “I believe that it slows down a little bit the more you play. You see a little bit more, but the game is still really quick.
At the opening of the third period, Boston launched its brief rally against the Hurricanes. At 1:30, Frederic engaged in a fight along the boards and shoved the puck across the crease to Marchand, who scored for a 2-1 lead.
Playing with those men is enjoyable. In this league, [Marchand] has 900 points, and [Coyle] is not far behind. Thus, I try to work hard and get that puck to those players,” Frederic remarked.
Frederic also assisted in setting up Marchand’s second goal of the game, which came from a rebound off Coyle’s first shot. Frederic drove the puck up the left side of the ice and into the offensive zone, where he then fed it to the Carolina slot.
Montgomery claimed that “it was all him” when they scored the faceoff goal. “Just bringing the puck to the net, attacking the middle, and creating a fantastic play with Charlie Coyle.”
Although it’s unlikely that Frederic will be in the first line much, he didn’t appear uncomfortable. Rather, he flourished. This season, Frederic’s versatility has been a godsend for the Bruins. He can play center when necessary, be the enforcer, or work on the wing, and he skates with confidence while doing it.
Montgomery remarked, “Trent Frederic is a really confident player.” For the first time in a long time, he is suddenly playing excellent hockey for us. He is deserving of and has earned the ice time.