The Boston Bruins are in serious trouble. They are 4-5-1 to start the season, which isn’t hateful but when you dive into the numbers they are ugly. For starters, this record is posted against the 27th ranked SOS (Panthers x2, MTL, LAK, COL, UHC, NAS, DAL, TOR, PHI). Including getting shut out most recently on Tuesday night vs Philly. For context, the Flyers are averaging 4 goals allowed per game. Yikes! Also pee yew.. Do you smell that? It’s awful isn’t it..? It’s got to be the Bruins Power Play right now. They lead the league in opportunities at 42 in 10 games, however they have only converted 6 goals that’s 14%. For reference this team finished the 23-24 season at 22% that was 14th. It’s got to get better moving forward no other ways about it.
Speaking of goal scoring, this team can’t do it right now. They are 27th in the league in goals per game at 2.7. Last year they finished the season at 3.21 per game. Their overall shooting percentage is 9.8 basically right at league average over the past decade. 5 on 5 specifically the Bruins are at 7.3 shooting percentage and that’s 21st in the league. They have scored a total of 15 five on five goals this season and -1 in their 5 on 5 differential. They are currently -7 overall in their point differential. With David Pastrnak off to a slow start, the whole offense seems to struggle.
The biggest story surrounding this team coming into the season was the Jeremey Swayman contract situation. I mentioned on our pre-season preview episode on “Between the Benches Podcast” that keeping the focus away from the ice and not having practice reps with players would prove costly. After all this is the 8th youngest team in the league at 28 years old. The goaltending and defense has been unBoston-like this season to say the least. So far they have allowed 34 goals in 10 games (3.4 GAA per game.) Last year this team allowed 2.7 goals per game. They have given the second highest amount of Power Play opportunities at 45 only behind San Jose. Showing the glaring need to increase team speed and positioning, something else that is unBoston-like. Their 5 on 5 save percentage is a bright spot right now posting a .927%, Swayman has been playing better as of late.
Overall, this team is young and needs time to grow together and figure out their roles. They need Pasta to show up and put his cape on. The defense has to get better and the discipline has to shape up or with the depth of the East this team could find themselves on the outside looking in.
Until next time.
DAC