Bruins have struck gold with Taylor Hall, David Pastrnak on new-look second line

Bruins have struck gold with Hall-Pastrnak combo on new-look second line originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins switched up their lines coming out of their COVID-19/holiday break, and the results have been so positive that head coach Bruce Cassidy should give these combinations an extended chance to become permanent.

Not only have the Bruins won five of their six games in the New Year — including impressive victories over two top teams in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals — many players have raised their performance to another level or two.

Three such players are left winger Taylor Hall, center Erik Haula and right winger David Pastrnak. This new-look second line has given the Bruins a huge boost offensively.

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Monday night’s dominant 7-3 win over the Capitals was the latest example. The Bruins tallied 22 shot attempts, 15 shots on net, eight scoring chances and outscored Washington 1-0 in the 13:58 of 5-on-5 ice time this line played Monday, per Natural Stat Trick.

In the six games since the B’s returned from their two-week hiatus, the Hall-Haula-Pastrnak trio has been a positive driver of puck possession, scoring chances and goals scored during its 61:30 of 5-on-5 time together during that span.

The change in lines has perhaps benefitted Pastrnak more than any other player. The superstar winger was playing well before the New Year, but his stats (most notably his goals scored and shooting percentage) were below expectations for someone of his caliber.

Pastrnak has now scored five goals in his last four games, giving him 13 in 32 games overall. His second goal against the Capitals, assisted by Hall, essentially put the game out of reach in the second period.

Hall also has seen a big improvement in his play over this time. He’s tallied eight points (two goals, six assists) in six January games. After losing his center, David Krejci, in the offseason, Hall has finally…