Taylor Hall's renewed offensive dominance, or as some have called it his "rejuvenation," in Boston continued on Monday night when he scored two goals including the overtime game-winner against the Islanders, helping the Bruins seal the third seed in the East Division.
It seems clear that with the Bruins, Hall is experiencing more confidence and having more fun than he did in Buffalo this season, but Hall took that concept a step further.
"It's been 16 games [since joining Boston]. It's probably been some of the most enjoyable hockey I've ever played in my career," Hall said.
After Hall's two goals in the Bruins' 3-2 overtime win, coach Bruce Cassidy commented on Hall's performance and progression with the team.
"That's the Taylor Hall we were hoping to get," Cassidy said.
"Since he's been here I think he's opened up a little more with the players and personality-wise, so that tells me right away he's more comfortable in the room, and it shows on the ice. I thought he's been good since he got here day one."
Hall has scored eight times with the Bruins but this was his first multi-goal game this year.
In fact, Monday night was the first time in 871 days that Hall has scored multiple goals in a game.
In the time since Hall's last multi-goal game -- Dec. 21, 2018 with the New Jersey Devils -- he's gone through a lot. The very next game he went down for the season, needing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Since then he's played on four different teams and his production has been subpar by his own standards from his first eight seasons .
The knee surgery came a season after his 39-goal, MVP year in 2017-18, and after his recovery his play declined, reaching its lowest point in Buffalo this year, where Hall admitted the two-goal production in 37 games was 100 percent on him.
"There were some really dark days this year in Buffalo. I haven't really talked a lot about it but I didn't play well. I don't have anyone else to blame for that, for my play in Buffalo, other than myself," Hall said.
"I came in [to Buffalo], I worked hard, and for whatever reason we just didn't have it. We had a great group of guys, the chemistry in the locker room was great. When it was time to perform in a game, I didn't do my job and I know a lot of guys would say the same thing."
But that string of lesser play from the 2010 first-overall draft pick may be over. Playing alongside David Krejci, and being motivated by the energy of Brad Marchand, has Hall heading in the right direction, with no signs of turning back.
Krejci and Marchand help Hall put his struggles in Buffalo behind him
After 16 games with the Bruins, Hall credited Marchand as a model player he's been able to watch and copy for his own game, which has helped his confidence during his time in Boston.
"When you have it, you don't really know you have it, but when you don't have confidence it's certainly apparent," Hall said. "And I can't really say what the turning point was or anything, but when I watch a guy like Marchand play and the things that he does out there I think that was a really good thing for me.
"To watch him play, to see how hard he is on pucks, to see how many times he gives a second effort to get a puck back on D or on offense, he's been a guy that I think our whole roster feeds off of, but for me personally to see how he plays -- I know I can play a similar style and it's almost like you watch someone do it and you're like, 'OK, I can do that.'"
Hall acknowledged that Krejci too has played a big role in his progression in Boston.
"Coming here and the first time we stepped on the ice together, you could see the play-making ability that he has and he's done it for so long," Hall said.
"And just speaking to people that know hockey, they always told me if Krejci has some linemates that he likes playing with -- like he had [Milan] Lucic and [Nathan] Horton back in the day, some other guys have been through -- and he's comfortable and he's playing with some players that can play with speed and pace he's very effective. And obviously he's been much more than that."
Hall explained one big, but simple reason why he's experienced such success with Krejci as his center:
"For me I've never played with a right-handed centerman at all really in my career, maybe a little bit with Sam Gagner in Edmonton, but to have a guy that doesn't have to go to his backhand to pass me the puck when I'm coming up the wall, I think it adds another dimension to our attack off the rush."
Krejci has assisted on seven of Hall's eight goals with the Bruins, including both tallies Monday against the Islanders.
Getting acquainted with his new team and new city has given Hall a boost he didn't feel in Buffalo.
"The aura around the team has been a lot of fun to play for and I've loved my time here. The city is amazing, just walking around, the energy in this area for the team just in general has been really fun to be a part of," Hall explained.
And Marchand remarked that he's noticed Hall's excitement to be with the team as well, saying, "We knew what kind of a player he was and how gifted and talented he was, and we saw that on display tonight. Lazer [Curtis Lazar] said the other day he's rejuvenated. He's excited to be here and be part of a group like this."
Now as the team heads into the playoffs Hall has a simple goal in mind:
"I feel like I've had a positive impact and it's important for me just personally on an individual level to try and maintain that impact in the playoffs," said Hall.
After picking up two points against the Islanders, Boston has cemented a meeting with the Washington Capitals in the first round.
They play their final regular season game against the Capitals on Tuesday before starting Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Washington on Saturday night.
