The Boston Bruins leaped previous the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres into third place within the Atlantic Division by defeating the New York Islanders 6-3 on Thanksgiving Eve.
Contemplating how badly the primary 20 video games of the 2024-25 season went, the Bruins even have a lot to be thankful for, together with being seventh within the Jap Convention with 25 factors.
Listed here are 4 causes the Bruins ought to be grateful:
TEAM DEFENSE
Within the ultimate 5 video games with Jim Montgomery on the helm, the Bruins had been outscored 20-9 with a minus-21 objective differential to start the season.
Since normal supervisor Don Sweeney fired Montgomery and changed him with Joe Sacco, the Bruins are 2-1-0 whereas surrendering simply three targets.
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One key space of enchancment Sacco wished to see from Boston was the workforce’s return to its roots of being arduous to play towards.
“I need groups to realize it’s going to be arduous to attain targets towards us,” Sacco mentioned in his introductory press convention final week.
Whereas the offense has nonetheless did not elevate off, the protection has definitely stepped up. The Bruins have held their opponents to 57 photographs on objective after giving up 93 within the first three video games of the season.
GOALTENDING
Jeremy Swayman has struggled out of the gate following a protracted offseason, which led to the Bruin No. 1 netminder sitting out of coaching camp. The time missed has clearly affected Swayman — he’s posting a .888 save share and a 3.16 goals-against common in 16 begins.
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To make up for the time and reps he missed, Swayman frolicked with Bruins goaltending coach Bob Essensa to assist discover the 26-year-old’s rhythm and tempo.
It definitely helped. Swayman has allowed simply two targets in his final two begins. He had given up 20 in his earlier 5 begins.
Swayman’s companion, Joonas Korpisalo, has been a star between the pipes, with two shutouts this season and a .911 save share and a pair of.38 goals-against common.
If Swayman can return to kind, as he’s proven in his final two begins, and Korpisalo can proceed to be strong in web, the Bruins goaltending tandem will certainly steal just a few video games for Boston.
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PENALTY KILL
Traditionally, the Bruins have been on the high of the league on the penalty kill. Nonetheless, this season, Boston ranked twenty fifth within the league at 75.6% by means of the primary 20 video games of the season. After the teaching change, the Bruins regained their mojo and allowed only one power-play objective whereas shorthanded 11 occasions for 90.9% of their final 4 video games below Sacco.
OFFENSE IS COMING
The Bruins are 3-1-0 of their final 4 video games because the teaching change. In these contests, Boston has outshot their opponents 113-81 and outscored them 9-6.
Boston exploded for six targets towards the Islanders on Wednesday night time, with its stars main the cost. Brad Marchand scored a pair of targets within the first interval, and Pavel Zacha potted two tallies within the ultimate body.
To not be forgotten, David Pastrnak had three assists within the Bruins’ win for his sixth multi-point recreation of the season. Elias Lindholm added three assists for his fourth multi-point recreation, and fellow newcomer Nikita Zadorov lit the lamp for the primary time in a Bruins uniform and had an help on Zacha’s second objective for his second multi-point recreation.
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All six targets got here 5-on-5, the primary time the Bruins scored not less than 5 at even power this season.
The Bruins will look to remain sizzling as they shut out November towards the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Black Friday matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for six:30 p.m. ET, and the sport shall be aired on TNT.
