By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The Boston Bruins are now 20-17-1 and bunched up with several other teams, sitting just one point out of the final wild-card spot as they ride a four-game losing streak filled with various mistakes. What makes matters worse is that these mistakes are largely self-inflicted, and that can begin to feed into multiple narratives.
Without extrapolating bigger points like some of the angrier Bruins fans out there, it is fair to wonder whether any of this recent play is an indictment on anyone other than the players. The reality is, though, that the players have chosen to be undisciplined in multiple areas, and a situation like that cannot be rectified by anyone other than themselves.
Loose Structure
As it was broken down in a previous article, the players have been quick to drift out of position within the unit’s structure, and opponents during this stretch have exposed that consistently. You have both forwards and defensemen cheating themselves out of position in an effort to make a big play, and it is defeating the purpose of how head coach Marco Sturm wants them to play.
The coaching has been direct from the first-time head coach that players need to play within structure, and Sturm’s attitude in general has helped build awareness of that idea. Whether because of past success, tired players resisting one side of the ice, or simple ineptitude, the message has gone unheard.
Numerous Penalties
The coaching has also gone unheard in the way the players execute team identity, as updated penalty totals have the Bruins leading the National Hockey League with 522 penalty minutes. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is at the forefront, with a whopping 32 penalties, which sets up a give-and-take with the player that you don’t want to think about.
Players, fans, and media alike have not had to think about this because of the success the Bruins have been able to sustain through it all, but sooner or later, this trend was going to come home to roost. There are a lot of ways in which this penalty-taking problem wreaks havoc, but simply put, an issue like this for a new era and a new team destroys collective confidence and the concept of momentum.
Unconnected Goaltending
What can also kill momentum is subpar goaltending from a slump or tired-looking play, and for goaltender Jeremy Swayman, it could be a bit of both. Sturm could manage the goalie situation better so that his starter avoids playing a cluster of back-to-back games, but because most of the team’s problems have been on the players, it’s worth noting that the goalie must remain attentive at all times as well.
Over the recent stretch, Swayman has approached certain in-game situations with too much of a nonchalant attitude, as seen above, and it’s helped complete the chaotic picture that has been painted over the last four games. Perhaps one could argue that this whole situation has truly been about energy, but with multiple players in and out of the lineup this season and the group making things work all the same, there shouldn’t be a distinctly physical reason for individual lapses like these.
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