Boston Bruins: B’s On The Right Track
The Boston Bruins have been a bit of a fortunate surprise for the fans, going 3-1 in their first four games of the season.
The Boston Bruins took a lot of gruff during the offseason. For the most part, it was deserved. The blueline looked like blue cheese, and Tuukka Rask was playing at a mediocre level at best (.915 save percentage last year). While the offense was doing its part, the B’s defensive struggles was the biggest reason why the B’s missed the playoffs again.
So far, the Black and Gold haven’t had the problems that dogged them last season. Nearly every player on the roster has come to the table playing their best game. Zdeno Chara looks better than he did last year. Brad Marchand is treating the season like he’s still at the World Cup. David Pastrnak has also had a strong start, and Tuukka Rask has gone 3-for-3 in the net for Boston.
“I think we’re growing as a team, but I think right off the bat when everybody showed up, we looked like we were ready to go and everybody seemed to have that right mindset,” said Rask. “So, that’s a good thing to have. I think guys should show up to work and we get a game plan and we go out there and execute it and it pays off. It’s a cliché but that’s how it is and now we have the guys to do it.”
The Bruins looked great in their home opener, and they need to have another strong game against Montreal when they play at the TD Garden tonight.
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The Bruins only need to tighten up a few things to become a truly dangerous team this year. They need to see more production out of their middle-six forwards. David Backes moving to the Krejci line should help in that regard. Hopefully, Ryan Spooner will be added to that line to make it stronger. They also need to work on special teams. The B’s have only gone 1-for-14 on the power play.
Thankfully the B’s are bringing a strong compete level to their game. The Bruins have yet to score the first goal in a game. While that can dog a team throughout a game, the B’s have been finding ways to come from behind to earn points for the team. Hopefully the B’s can break that cycle against the Habs.
“It’s always fun to play Montreal at home, or in Montreal,” said Bruins forward David Krejci about the Montreal-Boston rivalry. “This will be our second time counting the preseason, and our first time at the Garden. It’s going to be pretty cool. When you say any NHL team there are a few names that pop out for that team, and [P.K. Subban] was definitely one of them [for Montreal]. But P.K. is gone, and now it’s Shea Weber. So it’s going to be a little different, but he’s a hell of a player as well so it isn’t going to be any easier.”
The Bruins alternate captain knows the stakes of tonight’s game. A strong win against the Habs would show the fans that this Bruins team is ready to shake off the woes that dogged them the last two years.
“It’s a big game. It’s a division game. We don’t want to take any game lightly within the 82 games because you don’t know what can happen at the end. When those games against [Montreal] are done you always feel like you’ve played two games, and not just one. It’s high intensity, and it’s obviously a rivalry that you get up for.”
Next: Tuukka Rask needs to play against Montreal tonight
Hopefully, the Black and Gold will get the better of the Habs and really show the fans that they’re ready to be considered a playoff contender again.