By: Brandon Murdock | Follow me on Twitter/X @Brandonmurdoc11
For the Boston Bruins, last season was the first time in eight years that they failed to reach the postseason. This is something that has only happened two times previously since winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, and a result that they would not like to repeat.
Currently, with 24 games to go, the Bruins sit in the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and are only three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second spot in the Atlantic Division. With all that being said, I identified three areas that the team must improve upon in the second half of the season to secure playoff hockey.
1: Discipline
This version of the Bruins simply cannot stay out of the box. Over the course of the first half of the season, the Bruins trail only the Tampa Bay Lightning in total penalty minutes. This is certainly not one of the categories that you would like to see your favorite team at the top of.
Nikita Zadorov, (123), and Mark Kastelic, (108), are currently the top two in the entire NHL in terms of penalty minutes. Zadorov leads the next non-Bruin member on the list by 19 points. This is a theme that can hurt you as you chase a playoff spot.
It is especially critical, considering the Bruins have struggled on the penalty-kill this season. The team lies in the bottom-five of the league in penalty-kill percentage, only killing off 76.5% of penalties. It is vital that down the stretch, the team keeps it clean on the ice.
2: Scoring Depth
The Bruins simply need more out of the bottom of their lineup. You know what you are going to get with the likes of Morgan Geekie, (32 goals), and David Pastrnak, (22 goals), leading the charge. The only problem is that these are the only two players on the roster with over 20 goals.
Guys like Viktor Arvidsson, Fraser Minten, and Marat Khusnutdinov have been pleasant surprises this season with their scoring totals, with each having over 10. But, it is hard to say if their scoring is something that can truly be relied on night in and night out.
This offense could have a whole different look if Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm can pick up steam. Unfortunately for the team, though, Zacha, despite being third on the team in goals, is having a bit of a down year. On the other hand, Lindholm has struggled to find a groove since coming to Boston last season, failing to replicate the success that earned him that big contract. Whether it is at the trade deadline or just better performances, something has got to change.
3: Even Strength Scoring
The Bruins currently have 197 goals on the season, with 45 of those coming on the power play, good for fourth in the league in power-play goals. It is never bad to have a successful man-advantage, but it is never a recipe for success when nearly a quarter of the team’s goals come from this avenue.
The team needs to find a way to create more chances in 5 v. 5 hockey, gaining more possession in the offensive zone, and simply firing the puck on net would be a step in the right direction. Going back to my previous team fix, getting more from outside of their top-two scorers would do wonders for their even-strength play.
Down the stretch, referees tend to swallow their whistles more, meaning the Bruins will not be getting as many power-play opportunities as they would like. This is something that could be the biggest factor in whether or not the team ultimately makes the postseason.
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