After a frustrating start for the Bruins, it’s hard to pin the blame on just one player.
For a sport so heavily reliant on team chemistry, the entire roster will need to step up in order for this group to succeed.
If they continue on the same track, it is likely they will miss the playoffs again.
There are several key components the Bruins will need to fix in order to return to a dominant force in the NHL, the first being their woeful defense.
On opening night, their first defensive pairing consisted of offensive defenseman Torey Krug, 24, and career third liner Adam McQuaid, 29.
The Bruins were forced to call upon rookie defensemen Colin Miller and former San Jose Sharks castoff Matt Irwin to fill in for injured Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg.
Their inexperience showed throughout the first three games. Each shift left fans biting their nails, with the trust factor at an all-time low. In order to be successful this year, the Bruins need to rebuild their defense.
Another area for concern is Boston’s veteran goal tender, Tuukka Rask. His 4.72 goals against average and .846 save percentage is reason for concern.
He has not looked like the former Vezina winner we saw in 2014. His play is pivotal to the success of the entire team, as it has been for the past three seasons.
Despite the negatives on defense, there have been positives in the first three games.
The return of Boston’s veteran center David Krejci has been key in helping the offense. The assistant captain was battling injuries last season and did not have as a big of an impact as he has in the past.
Through the first two weeks of the young season, it is evident that Krejci is healthy and back to his old self, as he has netted four goals and five assists in the first five games for a total of nine points, tied with Henrik Zetterberg for the NHL lead through Sunday.
Another positive that can be taken away from the early games is the offensive play of Torey Krug.
Standing at 5-foot-9, the former Michigan State Spartan has impressed Bruins fans with his continuous success. His presence on the first line of the Bruins power play has led to many goals.
During last Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Krug was involved in three power play goals, dishing assists in each.
On Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes, Krug dished out another two assists, giving him an impressive six assists in the first five games of the season, the second highest total among defensemen.
In order for the Bruins to get back to their winning ways, they need their young talents to step up and take a leadership role on the team. With a healthy defense and Rask back to his old ways, the Bruins could be a force to be reckoned with.
Don’t be shocked to see Boston make a run at the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
