BOSTON — The Bruins have performed 4 video games within the first week of their 2024-25 NHL marketing campaign and skate right into a three-game highway journey with a 2-2-0 document in these contests.
Whereas the pattern measurement isn’t precisely giant, the Bruins have already pinpointed a number of areas of their sport that should be adjusted for a profitable season.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the curler coaster first week:
LACK OF DISCIPLINE
The Bruins have granted their opponents 21 power-play alternatives within the first 4 video games of the season however have miraculously solely surrendered two targets whereas shorthanded. Boston has not solely been whistled for no less than 4 minor penalties in every contest however has additionally allowed its opponents, primarily the Florida Panthers, to get underneath its pores and skin and win the “psychological aspect” of the sport. If the Bruins proceed to surrender alternatives to different groups, the penalty killing models are greater than more likely to begin giving up protection and go away the goalies alone to fend off the assault.
POWER PLAY STRUGGLES
Final season the ability play was a robust facet of the Bruins sport — within the first half of the season. Out of the blue, there was an influence outage on the person benefit as Boston limped via the playoffs with a 21.2% success charge. This season, the ability play models have been revamped with new gamers being acquired throughout the offseason, however the man benefit is off to a gradual begin, scoring simply two targets in 18 alternatives. The Bruins have the appropriate gamers to have the ability to run a profitable energy play, however the chemistry simply isn’t there but for the Black and Gold.
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SUCCESSFUL FOURTH LINE
It might solely be a four-game pattern measurement, however the Bruins’ fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, and Cole Koepke has been the most constant up to now. The trio has mixed for 13 factors and 12 photographs on aim to date and is making a distinction not simply on the scoreboard however merely with the trouble they create each time they soar on the ice for his or her shift.
GOALTENDING IS NOT TO BLAME
By the primary a part of the season, the Bruins have had many defensive breakdowns in entrance of Joonas Korpisalo and Jeremy Swayman. A number of targets scored by the opposing groups have been the results of backdoor tip-ins from the Bruins’ protection not clearing their gamers from across the internet. Because the defensive pairings get extra acclimated to one another and proceed to speak on the ice, there ought to be fewer targets scored unopposed from the high-danger areas.
THE TOP SIX “AREN’T DOING THEIR JOB”
Whereas the fourth line has been a powerhouse for the Bruins to date, the top-six ahead group is struggling to generate offense on a constant foundation. Granted each the primary and second strains have been revamped within the offseason, Elias Lindholm is centering David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha, and Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand are skating with Morgan Geekie via the primary 4 video games. The chemistry throughout the group remains to be constructing because the forwards work towards understanding one another’s video games. To place it merely, the highest weapons stay off-kilter however have proven some flashes of potential. Time will inform if Jim Montgomery will hold the strains as they stand or start to shuffle some items round within the hopes of producing extra offense.
It’s nonetheless early so there’s no must panic simply but. The Bruins have three key areas they should deal with — effort, execution and beginning on time. If they will persistently do these issues, the chemistry will construct and so will the wins.
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