By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
Well, the Boston Bruins come out with five of six possible points over the last seven days after what was a poorly timed slump. It may feel odd to recognize that after starting the week with a low-scoring gut-wrencher against the Calgary Flames, but the numbers matter above all right now.
The group was already in a tight race for a wild-card spot before the recent losing streak, but now they simply can’t afford to lose in chunks again. Perhaps this past week was an encouraging sign that they can get back on their feet without delicately walking a line between structure and offensive production.
Seven Notes:
1. Alluding to that narrative, the game against the Flames brought some old demons back for everyone. After recently showing a negligence toward structure similar to last season, the group erred on the side of defensive caution in Calgary, much like they did last year when responding to previous lapses. The 2-1 clash suggested that the group may still have the frustrating tendency to overthink their approach after a slump, but the following games made strides to make Monday night feel worthy of a point.
2. Defenseman Jonathan Aspirot is another prime example of how Bruins defensemen should be playing. He skates at just 6’0, 220, but that doesn’t stop him from being decisive in getting into shooting lanes and imposing his body on opponents. Now, the whole defensive unit averages 15.95 blocked shots per game, but he’s been at the forefront, and the pairings could follow his physicality in front of the net more often.
3. The offense was feeling it on Wednesday night in Edmonton, with Aspirot even getting on the scoresheet. Whether it was the big previous wins the Edmonton Oilers had against the Bruins or the fact that it was New Year’s Eve, scoring came from everywhere, from inside the crease to long range. An even bigger victory was scoring six goals after an overtime loss that had made the back of the net feel untouchable.
4. When forward David Pastrnak is clicking, the margin for error for opposing goalies is remarkably thin. The Oilers came into Wednesday night’s clash with a shaky goaltender in Connor Ingram, but the timing of Pastrnak’s goals and the way he scored them was par for the course. He snuck one past Ingram’s pads up close for the game’s first goal and one-timed another later for his second, neither of which Ingram appeared to have much of a chance on.
5. Power play hockey was capped with post-regulation success on Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. Finally, the opponent joined the group in black and gold in regretting their undisciplined play. As much as people in Boston can talk about the opponent’s ability to capitalize on the man advantage, don’t let it overshadow a Bruins power play unit that has been completely turned around by coach Steve Spott.
6. Penalties continue to be one of the major issues. The defense is getting caught with grabbing hands or loose sticks far too often, and it’s both demoralizing and restrictive. As a side note to the recent structural issues the team has run into, it wouldn’t be surprising if this lack of discipline plays a role, since both situations involve a level of situational awareness.
7. Forward Fraser Minten is a prime example of Boston’s encouraging youth pipeline. Scoring two goals in front of all his supporters in his hometown of Vancouver, including the game-winner, should highlight the two-way talent he possesses at just 21 years old. He plays the persistent, responsible style on both sides of the ice that the organization expects from its roster even a few years down the line, and you can only hope that encouraging prospects like forward James Hagens and forward Will Zellers follow his example when they reach the major league squad.
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