Taking A Look Ahead For The Boston Bruins In February

2017 started off on a rough note for the Boston Bruins. What does February, a crucial month, look like for them? What is there to look out for?

February Schedule

Game 54: Feb. 1: BOS @ WSH [L]*

Game 55: Feb. 4: BOS vs. TOR [OTL]

Game 56: Feb. 9: BOS vs. SJS [L]

Game 57: Feb. 11: BOS vs. VAN [W]

Game 58: Feb. 12: BOS vs. MTL [L]

Game 59: Feb. 19: BOS @ SJS [L]

Game 60: Feb. 22: BOS @ ANA [W]

Game 61: Feb. 23: BOS @ LAK [L]

Game 62: Jan. 20: BOS @ DAL [W]

Game 63: Jan. 22: BOS vs. ARI [W]

* – Game has already been played

Record after January: 26-21-6, 58 points

Record Prediction after February (See brackets): 30-26-7, 67 points

February is a rather short month for the Boston Bruins, as they only play 10 games. In it, the Bruins will have a four-game home stretch, followed by a four-game Western road trip. The month ahead also features two pretty long stretches of time off. The team has no games between Feb. 5-8, as well as Feb. 13-18. A very strange month.

Goal Scoring

Although the Bruins have scored 15 goals in their last four games, goal scoring is an apparent problem far too frequently. In no way am I putting any blame on David Pastrnak, but it would be nice to see him find the scoreboard more like he did earlier in the season. After scoring five or more goals in every month, Pastrnak had only one in January. With a team that at times seems like they solely rely on Brad Marchand to carry the offense, some others stepping up would be helpful, and in some cases help the team win games.

The bottom-six scoring was pretty bad in January. Here is a breakdown of the goals scored by the bottom-six forwards:

Ryan Spooner, Dominic Moore, Matt Beleskey, Jimmy Hayes, Austin Czarnik, Anton Blidh – 0

Tim Schaller – 1

Riley Nash – 2

Three goals from your bottom-six forwards, THREE. That is pitiful, only two bottom-six forwards scored goals in a whole month. I have talked about how adding Thomas Vanek could be a nice deadline rental for the Boston Bruins, likely at a cheap price. Whether he takes over the second line right-wing, or third line, he will add some much needed scoring. A cheap backup goaltender trade could help as well, or at least some more rest for Tuukka Rask.

Notable Games

Another interesting thing about the Bruins February schedule is the fact that there are only two divisional games. Tomorrow night, Feb. 4, at TD Garden against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Feb. 12 against the Montreal Canadiens. Due to this lack of divisional games, these points will be crucial as we near towards the end of the regular season, where divisional points are especially at a premium.

Two games against the Pacific Division leaders, the San Jose Sharks, will not be easy. The Anaheim Ducks are right behind them in the Pacific, so beating them will be no easy task. Although, the last time the Bruins played the Ducks, they only lost by one goal. Two of these Western Conference games are on the road as well, where the Bruins haven’t been the best this year. They are 14-10-6 on the road and have lost all of their overtime/shootout games on the road.

Next: Will The Boston Bruins Make The Playoffs

February is a crucial month for the Boston Bruins, and although there aren’t a ton of games, there is opportunity to make up some ground and get some momentum going towards the end of the season. Hopefully enough momentum to propel the team into the playoffs.

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