Bruins followers could be forgiven in the event that they’re not terribly moved by the Bruins’ record-tying begin to the season. The 2022-23 B’s broke all types of normal season information, in fact, and by no means lived to see the month of May.
But the B’s 6-0 begin this yr, which tied them with the 1937-38 staff for the franchise file for finest begin to a season, is exceptional in that the half dozen performances have all been fairly noticeably flawed in a method or one other, but they’ve nonetheless managed to return out on high, all in regulation no much less.
Yes, the B’s have gotten excellent goaltending from Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. But they haven’t needed to steal video games, solely maintain the fort for a interval or so earlier than their teammates bought their act collectively.
And sure, the B’s competitors has been fairly mild. But let’s not neglect that the Blackhawks, whom the B’s have crushed twice, went into Toronto and beat the Maple Leafs and the Predators, whom the B’s beat as soon as, knocked off the Rangers in Madison Square Garden. They additionally beat an excellent Kings staff that has top-of-the-line 1-2-3 middle lineups within the league. Having to play 4 video games in six nights as they did on their simply accomplished street is a problem as effectively, regardless of which NHL groups you’re enjoying.
So is it time to begin believing within the B’s? As a staff that would/ought to make the playoffs? Sure. As a real Stanley Cup contender? Well, let’s maintain off on that for whereas, a minimum of till they play a staff or two from the Eastern Conference.
Still, they’re a extra intriguing staff than this observer anticipated to see thanks in nice half to new additions, some youthful, some not a lot.
Here are a couple of takeaways from the simply concluded street journey, and a stay up for what must be a extra telling homestand developing:
*Let’s exit on a limb and say 19-year-old Matt Poitras ought to stay a Boston Bruin and never return to his Canadian junior staff in Guelph.
Not solely does his growth scream out for extra NHL work as a against enjoying towards fellow youngsters, the easy reality is that the Bruins want him of their lineup. While the B’s are tops within the league defensively (1.17 targets towards common), they’re simply thirteenth total in offense (3.17). They can’t afford to lose any level producers.
Taking nothing away from Pavel Zacha or Charlie Coyle, Poitras already seems to have one of the best offensive instincts of any of the B’s centermen. While often known as a pass-first pivot, Poitras has proven little hesitation in going to the web with the puck when he sees his opening.
But to those eyes, probably the most spectacular trait that Poitras possesses is his doggedness in puck battles. Undersized in most of them, he finds a technique to come away with the puck most of the time.
“He’s a competitive little bugger,” mentioned coach Jim Montgomery.
It will get tougher for Poitras. If his manufacturing continues, his repute will proceed him and he’ll get a number of the consideration that the B’s lavished on Connor Bedard of their two conferences. The Blackhawks’ excellent rookie was held with out a shot on purpose in Tuesday’s assembly whereas Brad Marchand was seen fairly actually blanketing him as he tried to get off the ice.
It will likely be enjoyable to see Poitras tackle these challenges. So far, he’s met everybody that’s been put in entrance of him.
*At 6-0, the B’s can afford to be a bit of affected person with the ability play, however the guess right here is that it’s going to want some personnel adjusmtent in some unspecified time in the future. They’ve clicked on simply three of twenty-two possibilities this season and the execution appears to be getting worse. All it did in Chicago was to stall momentum.
So what to do? The reply feels inevitable. After having a right-handed shot within the bumper for over a decade with Patrice Bergeron, the left-handed Zacha has been positioned there and it’s simply not working. That is to not lay all of it on hard-working Zacha. Far from it. Their two most explosive offensive gamers, David Pastrnak and Marchand, have skilled their woes with the puck. But we’ve seen it succeed with Pastrnak and Marchand, not so with Zacha. Iff it doesn’t get straightened out quickly, they might no selection however to attempt the right-handed Poitras within the bumper to see if that makes issues click on.
If the PP retains going like this, it should ultimately value the B’s video games.
*We weren’t certain what to anticipate from 34-year-old James van Riemsdyk, however he would be the steal of the free agent class at a cool $1 million. He has slot in effectively with Coyle and Trent Frederic on a will-imposing grind line. And whereas he might now not fly up and down the wing, his ability in shut quarters continues to be excellent. The backhand feed on Frederic’s purpose in Chicago was elegant.
*We have been equally skeptical about what 34-year-old Kevin Shattenkirk might deliver after three years misplaced within the Anaheim rebuild. He didn’t soar out in any optimistic manner in preseason and it’s nonetheless undermined how a lot they’ll miss Connor Clifton’s youthful legs and physicality on the third pairing with Derek Forbort. But Shattenkirk’s hockey IQ and his skill to place passes on teammates’ tape has been eye-opening. His supply to Zacha’s blade on the B’s first purpose in Chicago was flawless.
*We’re going to begin studying extra about these B’s in a rush. After their return engagement towards the Ducks on the Garden on Thursday – the primary recreation again from a protracted roadie is rarely simple, regardless of the opponent – they settle in for an Atlantic Division stretch towards Detroit – which lastly appears to be like able to stake it’s declare within the division – the Florida staff that dashed it’ desires final spring and the Maple Leafs to complete up the house stand. They then journey to Motown for a fast two-game roadie that concludes in Dallas.
With the addition of Alex DeBrincat, the Wings appear like the actual deal, a minimum of offensively. They lead the league in targets per recreation with a 4.86 common and are second in energy play, succeeding at a 41.4% clip.
If the B’s are nonetheless standing atop the ultra-competitive division after that run, then will probably be time to essentially take them significantly.
Loose pucks
The B’s signed prospect defenseman Jackson Edward, 19, to his three-year entry-level take care of an NHL cap hit of $860,000. The rugged 6-foot-2, 193-pound D-man, at present enjoying with the London Knights, was the B’s seventh-round choose in 2022.
The B’s additionally positioned defenseman Ian Mitchell for the aim of task to Providence. Presuming he clears and the B’s ship him down, that would go away the B’s with solely six defensemen however they very effectively might be trying so as to add a ahead. Milan Lucic has missed the final two video games after taking a shot off his foot and Jakub Lauko suffered a scary lower close to his left eye within the win in Chicago on Tuesday.
Mitchell performed two video games for the B’s and picked up an help on Poitras’ first NHL purpose.
Source: www.bostonherald.com