Will the Bruins Carry Previous Win Streak Consistency into Playoffs?
Apr 5, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Bruins bench reacts after a goal during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bruins Could Stumble or Succeed in Postseason
Although the Boston Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 at the TD Garden on Saturday, you have to examine a couple of their recent competitions to draw a conclusion that the Bruins may be mortal in the playoffs.
The B’s 12-game winning streak in March was magnificent. Claude Julien‘s squad defeated teams handily while excelling at all facets of the game.
Contributions came from Carl Soderberg, a hard-nosed veteran in Jarome Iginla and the Bruins’ long-time “old reliable” Patrice Bergeron.
Soderberg tallied 15 points, while Bergeron and Iginla combined for 25 goals last month.
Boston’s young defenders–Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton–showed stable performances and demonstrated noticeable progress from the beginning of the season.
Lately, though, the Bruins’ young and veteran defenders alike haven’t performed up to snuff.
The B’s youth didn’t hold its own against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 4-3 loss. Against the Detroit Red Wings a day earlier, the Bruins most dependable D-man Zdeno Chara, failed to properly guard Gustav Nyguist on the game-winning goal.
Can the offensive Bruins make up for lackluster defense?
It’s unwise to rely solely on goal production in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The opposition typically comes out looking for a spark in their attack. They aim to considerably pressure the Bruins’ defense because the B’s are arguably the best team in the NHL. Every squad would relish in the chance to knock them off their usual regular-season consistency.
In previous years, too, we have seen the Bruins’ playoff issues lend towards the defensive side, especially against the Chicago Blackhawks last year. Joel Quenneville‘s team won Game 4, Game 5 and Game 6 averaging four goals per match.
What can you expect from the Bruins this year? Hopefully, repeat results of 2011.