Bruins Finally Find Much Needed Consistency

Jan 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Niklas Svedberg (72) is congratulated by center Chris Kelly (23) after shutting out the New Jersey Devils 3-0 at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014-15 Boston Bruins campaign has been one of disappointment as they’ve reached the halfway point in the schedule. The Bruins entered the season as favorites to once again win the Atlantic Division and contend for the Eastern Conference title come playoff time. While Boston is a team that thrives on proving people wrong, I doubt that they intended to do so in the manor that they have, finding themselves fourth in the division and eighth in the conference, just barely grasping a playoff spot. While the bare numbers might be embarrassing to the Black and Gold, they have slowly begun to climb their way back in the standings with three consecutive wins against Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Beating Pittsburgh on the road is no small task, and isn’t uncharted waters for Boston, who have found ways to beat the Pens in both the regular season and in the playoffs. Last Wednesday night’s bout was no different. With a high talent team like the Penguins the Bruins had to play their trademark, physical brand of hockey Boston is notorious for. It may have took extra time, and a controversial game-winner, but Boston found a way to grind out a win against one of the league’s hottest teams in their own building.

The Bruins have not faired so well in back to back games this season, coming out .500 or worse in four of their last five back-to-back games, but they brought their momentum with them into the TD Garden Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. The victory over the Devils was not the promising tidbit of this game, but it was the manor in which the Bruins won. The Bruins were missing one of their hottest players as of late, Swedish winger Loui Eriksson, but gave a complete team effort and beat the struggling Devils 3-0. The Bruins not only dominated the final score, but dominated in almost every aspect of the game. Boston handily outshot New Jersey 43-14, a sign that Bruins fans have been looking for since October. The Bruins continued to barely top sub-par opponents this year so Thursday’s dominant win was a sight for the sore eyes of the Causeway faithful.

The Black and Gold found themselves in the City of Brotherly Love Saturday afternoon to take on another mediocre opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers. The expectations of many in Saturday’s game was similar to the expectations of New Jersey’s Thursday night defeat. Not only were the expectations the same, but the result was as well. The Bruins ripped their way through the 25th place Flyers, beating them 3-1. The Bruins were outshot in the bout, but fans got to see promising rookie, 18 year old David Pastrnak net his first and second career goals, and come inches away from his first hat-trick.

The Bruins will square off against the Atlantic-Division-Leading Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night. Time will tell if the recent string of success is a sign of things to come. The Bruins were in desperate need of a turning point this season, and fans must wonder, will the simplicity and effective playing style seen as of late lead to this change? There may be light at the end of the tunnel as the playoff race heats up in Beantown.