By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The Boston Bruins have one more game left on a long road trip to start the week, one that’s taken them from Boston to California and then to New York. It’s crucial they close the trip out on a positive note, especially with the losses that have piled up over the past four games.
Although the team has continued to dig in on the details of their attack and defending, showing positive play in pockets throughout these recent games, the score is what matters in the end. With lingering self-inflicted errors like the number of penalties they’ve taken recently, they will look to clean that up in the games ahead to once again get some results on the board.
Game 25: November 26, 7:00pm at New York Islanders (13-8-2)
Just like the last time the Islanders were broken down in a week preview, this team looks to play opponents pesky, especially on home ice. They’re 7-3-0 in their last ten games, so they’ll be coming in hot.
Centerman Bo Horvat has really come alive this season, leading the team with 14 goals, and that surge has paired nicely with the Islanders’ youth movement. The fact that defenseman Matthew Schaefer and winger Emil Heineman can step into a proven core and produce themselves has been a godsend for the team.
Game 26: November 28, 1:00pm vs New York Rangers (10-11-2)
Although the Rangers are working with the remnants of a taxed core, they still pose a threat to score in bunches on any given night. Their lack of a focused physical identity could allow the Bruins to impose themselves with a strong start, but a Black Friday matinee is always a tough test mentally.
It’s the usual partners in crime for New York, with centerman Mika Zibanejad, centerman J.T. Miller, and winger Artemi Panarin leading the team in goal production. When it comes to taking too many penalties, these players can decide the outcome of a game if you play undisciplined, even if their unit has been slumping recently.
Game 27: November 29, 7:00pm vs Detroit Red Wings (13-8-1)
The Red Wings may have a short list of finishers, but this team is trying to prioritize a collective push above all else. You’ll be better off focusing on the scorers and hoping the rest of the team is off their game, rather than trying to stop everything at once.
Centerman Dylan Larkin and winger Alex DeBrincat lead the team with 12 and 10 goals, respectively, while wingers like Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane create plays and pose a threat on the man advantage. They’re yet another team that can capitalize on ill-advised penalties, on top of everything else.
Facing three teams like this will most likely go either very poorly or surprisingly well. Based on the resilience the Bruins have shown, four points out of a possible six seems like the right prediction.
The Christmas checkpoint of the season is about a month away, making this week part of an important phase of the schedule. Boston should celebrate both ugly and pretty wins alike, as long as they’re adding points in the standings.
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