By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
Through five games, observers should have a good view of what the Boston Bruins’ underlying dynamics look like with the foundation of the roster. With a 3-2-0 record, the results have clearly been mixed, but for the Bruins, there are a few things to keep an eye on beyond the scoreboard.
The shots-on-goal statistic and the total number of goals scored in each game between the Bruins and their opponent are two specific categories to keep in mind. As a retooling team emphasizing the forecheck, the Bruins need to focus on generating as many offensive opportunities as they can while avoiding a standoff with a high-powered offensive team, which leads into the positive and negative development that’s played out so far this season.
Positive: The Bruins are shooting
So far, the Bruins rank in the top 10 in total shots through five games, ironically just behind a forechecking role model for them: the Carolina Hurricanes. Although the Hurricanes have slightly more notable offensive names sprinkled throughout their lineup, their strategy of launching pucks at the net and launching bodies toward defenders nearby is exactly what propels them to a surge into the playoffs.
Teams like the Bruins and Hurricanes have to prioritize this to compensate for the skill it would take for players to maintain possession in the offensive zone. If the team continues to keep its shot totals near the top 10 in the league, it will help provide the offensive production necessary to get by while the defensive pieces get to work.
Negative: They’re not defending
However, those defensive pieces have not exactly been holding up so far, and it’s causing the Bruins to play high-scoring games recently that they simply cannot be a part of down the stretch. The offense can shoot as many pucks as it wants, but if the defense doesn’t live up to the promise suggested by the names on the roster, the team ultimately won’t have the talent to compete for the playoffs.
This issue has not been as severe as last season in terms of lapses, but there are still too many instances where opponents can waltz into the net-front area for a tip or a self-created opportunity. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights are two teams that usually don’t struggle to generate offense, but that’s no excuse for a defensive core led by Charlie McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov.
Expect the Bruins to try to flip the script in games, perhaps even to a fault. Offensive players will likely put extra effort into backchecking, and hopefully defenders will focus on the net-front issues that have plagued the team for years.
Every coach and executive in the organization knows what this team needs to look like in wins of any kind to build momentum going forward. The Bruins don’t have to be something they’re not; they just have to consistently be the intentional and physical team they are.
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