Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm sent a clear message to Elias Lindholm on how he wants the star centerman to play.
The Bruins won their season-opening game on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. Following the win, Sturm said he was impressed with Lindholm’s game. But the coach does want to see him drive the play more as he did with the Calgary Flames.
“Damn, he was good,” Sturm said about Lindholm, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “Both of them (Pastrnak and Lindholm) were excellent. Not just on the power play. Five on five. They played a pretty simple game, straightforward. They used their speed through the middle.
“That’s what I want to see a little more of him,” Sturm added. “Not just wait for Pasta and the other guys right beside him. I want him to drive the bus a little bit more and go back to the Calgary days, where I saw him take charge.”
Lindholm had a goal and an assist in the Bruins’ win, and Sturm was glad to see him be more aggressive.
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The 30-year-old Swede struggled last season, recording just 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points. So, Sturm wants Lindholm to be more aggressive to help provide more offense to Boston’s lineup. Lindholm’s career high is 82 points.
Lindholm is in the second year of his seven-year, $54.25 million deal with Boston.
The Bruins are set to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in their home opener on Thursday.
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