( Photo Credit: Charles Krupa / AP Photo )

By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan

With another bounce-back win against the Utah Mammoth, the Boston Bruins continue to keep the train rolling through this portion of the regular season. There continue to be themes and nuances that are a complete flip from last season, and it cannot be mentioned enough how refreshing this has been for the team, fanbase, and reporters alike.

The fact that the Bruins can wash away a 6-2 road trip capping loss to the Minnesota Wild and return to their identity with minimal mistakes is eye opening. What was also eye-opening, though, was the only mistake in this game for the Bruins, which came from a loose structure on the penalty kill.

Forward Barrett Hayton Scores at 11:26 of the First Period

So, from the hyperlinked sequence, it appears that there was a lapse in structure, as you can see by defenseman Andrew Peeke’s pointing toward the eventual goal scorer as he hovers around goaltender Jeremy Swayman initially. It was quite the prophetic gesture, as Hayton passed off to forward Daniil But, who skates away from Peeke’s right, and Hayton then attacks the gap left behind by Peeke’s rush toward But.

This led to an open patch of ice in front of Swayman for Hayton to use his quick hands, and the rest was history. The visual is that Peeke was eventually too high up in the four-man penalty kill structure, but his disposition on the ice also indicates that Kastelic needed to be aware of Hayton, so either way, it was an attack by the opposition on the communication of the kill unit to get through the formation, and they successfully exploited it.

BONUS: Forward Morgan Geekie Scores at 3:59 of the First Period

This isn’t exactly a run-through of how this goal was scored from start to finish, but what a help it has been for this unit to have forward David Pastrnak sporadically on the opposite faceoff circle during powerplays. The power play isn’t nearly as predictable as it was just a season ago, and it now has multiple options to score.

In the frame, Pastrnak has been set up with the puck and equal opportunities to shoot or pass, with Geekie’s newfound finishing on the opposite side helping set up defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s shot as well. Your most valuable player’s decision-making isn’t partially impaired anymore, which helps both him and his teammates.