Boston Bruins: A Look Back at November
Nov 24, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing
David Pastrnak(88), playing in his first NHL game, looks to take a shot during the third period of the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The second month of the season has concluded for the Boston Bruins and they didn’t do terrible. They posted an 8-3-1 record, improving from their opening month’s 6-6-0. They finished out the month fourth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference overall. While the improvements aren’t monumental, they are still improving.
The Good
During the month of October it seemed that the Bruins couldn’t shake the injury bug. Unfortunately for the month of November, things didn’t get any easier. While the Bruins did gain Kevan Miller and Torey Krug back in the line up, they lost David Krejci, Adam McQuaid,Chris Kelly, Brad Marchand and David Warsofsky. Krejci appeared in 2 out of the 12 games of the month, registering one assist the Oilers on the 6th of the month. While it is still unknown what the forward’s injury is, he has been placed on IR, but his injury is not suspected to linger throughout the entire season. While both Marchand and Kelly were only out for short stints and have since returned, their absence put a hinder among the Bruins scoring.
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However, despite the barrage of injuries that seem to be plaguing the Bruins this season, they have had some diamonds in the rough that are shedding some light on the Bruins future. David Pastrnak finally got to make his NHL debut and has shown that he is ready to handle the NHL level, despite some earlier speculation after he went down in pre-season with a shoulder injury. Pastrnak has shown promise with his speed and skills, earning himself ample time among Bergeron and Marchand.
“His age definitely doesn’t show on the ice, that’s for sure. He’s definitely somebody that’s got a lot of poise with the puck making plays. He brings it to the net, and he’s not afraid. He wants that puck, and that’s a good thing. He was great to play with last game, and definitely having a few practices is going to help us to increase that chemistry.”Bergeron told CSNNE on playing with the 18-year-old.
Joe Morrow and Zach Trotman have also stepped up to the plate in the absence of some of the Bruins key players. Trotman, who suited up for half of the Bruins games through November, recorded 3 assists and averaged 16 minutes of ice time per game. Morrow was able to net his first professional goal against the Penguins on the 24th and also ranks among the Bruins top blueliners for ice time.
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Seth Griffith, despite his highlight reel goal against the Devils halfway through the month, seemed to struggle with playing consistently which is normal for a rookie. Currently he ties six other players for the team-lead in goals scored with 6, which isn’t bad for him, but collectively shows how much the Bruins have been struggling this season. However, they have Griffith working on playing more offensively and becoming a better two-way player, which ultimately will help the Bruins get the aggressive offense that they are in dire need of.
The Bad
Perhaps the worst part of the month of November came when the Bruins took a short road trip to Canada. They were completely undressed by both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, earning themselves two embarrassing losses. The first loss to the Leafs had Rask being pulled in the second period after letting four goals go by him off of just 16 shots. While they attempted a bounce-back against the Canadiens the next night and held them to a strong first period, they completely collapsed through the second and third periods, resulting in a 5-1 loss.
The Bruins special units are also struggling in the absence of Krejci and Chara. Their power play is currently ranked 18th overall being 11-for-62 thus far, while their penalty kill is at a mere 80%, tying them for 17th with Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.
The Improving
Fortunately for the Bruins, some missing links are getting better. Zdeno Chara has started skating prior to team practices, meaning his return is within reach. David Krejci is also making strides to recovery, being able to participate in team practices albeit sparingly. However, rumor has it that the Bruins may be shopping around for Chris Stewart, meaning some big changes could be coming for the Black and Gold. Shaking things up could be just the extra shove the Bruins need to get something going and kick it into high gear.