When the Bruins obtained Pavel Zacha, there were a number of options for the big forward that were easy to imagine for most observers.

One of them that didn’t jump off the page – but now seems like a natural idea – is to play him with his Czech countrymen David Krejci and David Pastrnak. Given his history with the returning Krejci, Taylor Hall was expected to ride the left wing shotgun with those two, and he still might. But when Hall went down with injury, Zacha jumped in that spot and the results were tremendous in their first game together on Wednesday in New York with the line exploding for a three-goal second period that changed the game.

While giving the usual ‘you’re-only-as-good-as-your last game’ caveat, Coach Jim Montgomery said on Friday that he’s contemplating keeping the line together – even when Hall gets back.

The coach has seen a boost in Zacha’s game since being united with his coutnrymen.

“They were really good in practice (on Thursday)…and obviously the game they played was really good,” said Montgomery. “He seemed to have a lot of jump. Now, is that jump just because he’s getting better throughout camp and he can do that with anyone? I don’t know. But right now, that chemistry with Krejci and Pasta is really good.”

Whatever happens, Montgomery would like to like to get Zacha settled on a line.

“The opportunity for the growth in his game is high. I would like to get him settled on a line as quickly as possibly so that we can see more growth in his game,” said Montgomery.

With an eye on playing on the Patrice Bergeron line while Brad Marchand is out until late November following double hip surgery, Zacha focused in the offseason on working on his shot and becoming a little more trigger happy than he’s been in the past. But even though he’s now playing with one of the best snipers in the league on the other side of the ice, Zacha said that doesn’t change his thought process that much.

“I feel like (Pastrnak) can create a lot of chances, too. He’s a skilled player. He’s not just a goalscorer,” said Zacha. “He can make great plays like he did (on Krejci’s) goal. I think anyone on our line who has a chance to shoot, we’ll be able to score goals. I just think it’s all about being hard on pucks, especially for me on that line. I think being fast and trying to create the stops in the offensive zone so we can get them the puck and make plays, that’s the important thing for me personally. I think everyone on our line can make plays and score goals, so I think there’s a pretty good balance there.”

MATT GRZELCYK, who had offseason shoulder surgery, skated with the Bruins for the first time in a non-contact jersey, but Montgomery couldn’t yet give a target date for game action for the defenseman. Hall (upper body) skated in a non-contact jersey.

FRIDAY’S SEASON OPENER

PREDATORS 4, SHARKS 1: Nino Niederreiter scored his debut goal for the Nashville Predators, who beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 in the Czech capital of Prague on Friday night in the NHL regular-season opener.

The teams will play again on Saturday as part of the league’s return to Europe for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kiefer Sherwood became the first player to score this season, putting Nashville on top 1:01 into the game. Eeli Tolvanen also scored and Matt Duchene finished it off with an empty-netter.

Tomas Hertl scored for San Jose in the first period, delighting the roaring crowd of 16,648 in his hometown. Tolvanen’s goal at 1:24 of the second put the Predators ahead to stay.

The Predators outshot the Sharks 32-31 while Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 30 shots.

The 28-year-old Hertl, who recently signed a $65.1 million, eight-year contract to remain with San Jose, picked up a feed Timo Meier and found the roof of the net just 6 seconds after a Sharks power play ended.

The Sharks converted on just 19% of power plays last season, and they struggled again on Friday.