After a slow start to the season, the Bruins have rallied back to earn points in their last seven games going 6-0-1 during the stretch.
There are a lot of positives to take away from the recent play of the Bruins. On the road this season, they are undefeated. At the beginning of the season, there was reason for concern with the poor play of the Bruins, but they have grinded their way to second place in the Atlantic division with a 6-3-1 record.
Having a reliable backup goalie is something the Bruins lacked last season, which contributed to them not making the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
Former Detroit Red Wing, Jonas Gustavsson, has stood on his head this season with a perfect 3-0-0 record.
Being able to have confidence in the backup goalie is pivotal, as it allows Tuukka Rask time to rest, something he did not do much of last season.
According to NHL.com, Gustavsson holds a .914 save percentage and a 2.00 goals allowed average. Coupled with Rask, Gustavsson is displaying signs that the Bruins have two reliable goalies on their roster whom they can have conviction in.
The Bruins goaltending has been impeccable as of late. Rask posted his first shutout of the season on Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes, when Boston routed them 6-0.
Rask faced 24 shots and was a brick wall throughout the game. However, he isn’t the only Bruin who has played well.
Center David Krejci continues to have proven success. Krejci posted, at minimum, one point in the first nine games of the season. On Tuesday night’s game against the Coyotes, he netted two goals, adding to his total of seven. Along with his seven goals, Krejci has eight assists for a total of 15 points on the season, which ranks him third most in points in the league.
Overall, the Bruins offense has been outstanding. They lead the league in goals per a game, averaging 3.90. The league average is 2.66 goals per a game. It has been an all-around team effort on offense. Boston continues to grind in front of the net and find success by generating rebounds in the slot. Several players have been leading this successful offense.
Leading the charge is wingman Brett Connolly. Connolly buried the go-ahead goal against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in a 3-1 victory on Saturday. That was Connolly’s fourth goal in five games.
Brad Marchand is among the players who have been on fire as of late. Eight of his nine total points came in the last five games. He mustered together four goals during that span, two of which he scored against the Florida Panthers on Friday in a 3-1 victory.
Jimmy Hayes has added great depth on the third line and has been successful in finding the back of net. He has three goals and six assists on the season. The Dorchester native has found great success with his hometown team.
The Bruins have found their rhythm and have been able to regain respect in the NHL. After a rocky start, the team has seemed to find their stride. Following their successful campaign in October, it is evident the Bruins are back to being a force in the NHL.
