A percieved speed boost could be because of a few reasons.
1. In my experience, forwards are CONSTANTLY hustling. They treat every chance at getting the puck like they're about to score the OT Game 7 winner in the Cup Final. On the flip side, defenders almost never need to hustle unless we're chasing down a forward on a breakaway.
2. Stickhandling and shielding the puck at all slows you down tremendously. If a forward started to deke around on a breakaway, he'd probably get caught by the defender at some point.
3. Up until a patch this year, I believe you skated faster without the puck. I could be incorrect, though.