Boston Bruins: Craig Smith has caught fire

The addition of Taylor Hall has helped the Boston Bruins as a whole but one player has definitley enjoyed playing alongside Hall. Craig Smith has been one of the best players on the Bruins roster as of late.

Boston’s second line was struggling prior to the arrival of Hall. David Krejci and Smith were finding it difficult to score and were hurting the B’s.

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But after the trade deadline, the second line has been on fire. Krejci has started scoring goals and might have earned himself a new contract at the end of the season.

Still, Smith seems to be the player most affected by the move. The winger has been unstoppable at times.

Craig Smith has been on fire for the Boston Bruins

Since the NHL Trade Deadline, Smith has five goals and five assists since Hall has joined the roster. Smith’s best performance came on Saturday when he secured his first hat trick in a Boston Bruins uniform.

The winger is known for getting plenty of shots on net, but Smith has been slotting home a decent amount of goals this season. So far in 2021, Smith has 13 goals and 19 assists this season.

Having Smith and the second line playing well is crucial for the success of the Bruins in the regular season and the playoffs. When Boston relies solely on their top line we have seen them struggle. Opponents key in on those players and are able to minimize their impact.

But now Smith is on fire and seems to have a confidence to his game. Also, Krejci seems to already be in playoff mode. He has eight goals and 29 assists in 2021 with six of those goals coming since the trade deadline.

It might have taken the Bruins a while but they have really found their form as of late. All over the ice they are getting great performances. If Boston continues to play like this they can compete for a Stanley Cup.

So Smith deserves some praise for how well he has played. He has raised his game at an important time for the Bruins. Hopefully, he will continue to score goals as Boston looks to solidify their playoff spot as the end of the 2021 regular season inches closer.

If the winger continues to play as he has recently, the B’s will be a tough team to defeat. That is music to the ears of Boston Bruins fans.