Elias Lindholm from the Bruins is finally here: “This is what we expected from Lindy”

BOSTON – As the game progressed, Elias Lindholm initially thought he might have to return to the defensive zone. But Lindholm quickly learned that Charlie Coyle, his new right wing after moving up from the third line, was excellent at protecting the puck.

Even though Coyle retreated into the Boston Bruins zone with Connor McMichael behind him, Lindholm gave his linemate enough trust to attack.

“As soon as he turned to his forehand, I kind of took off,” Lindholm said. “It was a nice game for him to go into the middle there.”

For the most part, Lindholm had a regrettable first season in Boston. The chemistry between him and David Pastrnak at No. 1 was zero. His attack was slow to emerge in the second row.

But Lindholm’s feel for hockey has stood the test of time, even if his production hasn’t. On Monday against the Washington Capitals, Lindholm assumed the puck might come his way as soon as Coyle shook McMichael and completed the turn. He was right.

Lindholm’s brain continued to fire. Instead of carrying the puck, he left it to a charging Brad Marchand. Because of his decision, Lindholm initiated a two-on-one rush against the flat-footed Jakob Chychrun. After accepting a back pass from Marchand, Lindholm got Charlie Lindgren to bite on his forehand, pulled a rolling puck to his backhand and fired the game-winning goal into the net just before it slipped off his blade.

LINDY FOR THE LEADERSHIP pic.twitter.com/X5Up9WRfZr

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 24, 2024

“I decided pretty early on that I was going to fake and go back to the backhand,” Lindholm said after the 4-1 win. “Of course it was a nice pass from Marshy. I was there all alone with the goal. Nice to see it coming in.”

Lindholm has three goals and two assists in the last five games. It’s his best performance in a five-game stretch this year. He is up to 18 points, third most on the team. Lindholm’s average annual value of $7.75 million looks more reasonable.

“That’s what we expected from Lindy,” interim coach Joe Sacco said of the center’s offensive presence. “He seems to be finding his game right now. These guys play a 200-foot game, but they also want to get their offense going. Lindy is also an offensive player. When they start putting some points on the board, they start to feel better as an individual. They help the team become more collective as a group. He just seems to find his game.”

Sacco and predecessor Jim Montgomery were pleased with Lindholm’s defensive play. But a big reason Sacco and Montgomery have their current titles is Lindholm’s offensive wanderings at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Lindholm doesn’t need the puck long to make plays. But perhaps his biggest shortcoming was that he had little puck possession while Montgomery was under fire.

It appears that Lindholm has turned the tide, both on Montgomery and his insulting vapidity. He is now more visible, in the middle of the action rather than on the sidelines.

And his appearance comes at the right time.

“Sometimes it just takes a while to get used to everything,” Marchand said. “It’s not just on the ice. It’s also off the ice for your family as you move into a new home and a new situation and try to figure everything out. Sometimes you just can’t get the jumps right. Sometimes they go your way. When they go your way, your confidence is high.

“He is playing very well at the moment. Definitely seems to have that touch. It’s great to see. He’s a great player and will be here for a long time.”

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bruins outscored the Capitals 6-0 during Lindholm’s 12:28 minutes of five-on-five play. Lindholm won nine of twelve faceoffs. Dylan Strome, Lindholm’s most frequent opponent, didn’t put a single puck in the net in 20:33 minutes of ice time.

Lindholm completed 3:42 minutes shorthanded. That included multiple substitutions during a five-minute kill early in the third period after Oliver Wahlstrom, who replaced Pastrnak (upper-body injury) on the starting line, was ruled out for Martin Fehervary’s substitution.

“We made 11 shots tonight against a good hockey team,” Sacco said. “I know they played yesterday. But that’s a good hockey team over there, one of the better teams in the league. So there is a commitment, a consent from our group. That’s why you’re seeing the results now.”

Lindholm is now more confident. He feels like he belongs with the Bruins.

It’s about time.

(Photo: Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)