The Boston Bruins have been on a tear lately in the National Hockey League. They’ve won their last five games, and have earned at least a point in their last nine. While the Bruins can contribute part of their success to the B’s putting more pucks on net, a good chunk of that success comes from the Bruins blueliners. The first half of the season saw Boston fielding AHL players and having core veterans either down with an injury or recovering from one.
Things have taken a turn for the better in Boston. Now, the Bruins are average 1.55 goals against in their last nine games. That recent resurgence has gotten the B’s off the bubble. They’ve gone from the outside looking in to claiming the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They’re only three points out from securing an automatic playoff spot, and they’re closing rapidly on the leaders in the NHL.
“I don’t think it’s by accident either,” said Claude Julien after last nights’ shutout over the New York Rangers. “You look at Chara coming back and finding his game. We talked about McQuaid yesterday, two veteran players that you put in your lineup that are big, strong and are extremely good defensively. So that certainly helps.”
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It’s nice to see Adam McQuaid healthy again. He’s one of those players that can put up good defensive numbers and be a dangerous person to deal with on the ice. McQuaid did take a hi-stick to the face last night, but other than a few stitches looks OK. With all of the Bruins top six forwards healthy and playing to their potential, they’re back to playing their type of hockey, and it’s reaping dividends.
“The last few games we’re playing smarter hockey, and just sticking to our system,” said Seidenberg. “It makes everybody around this team, and the whole mentality is a lot better than it used to be. You have a five-man unit and if everybody is doing their job – back-checking hard, putting pressure on the puck carrier from the outside – then it’s make it a much easier job for the D’s to protect the middle.”
“It’s about working hard and doing the job. If we do that then it’s hard to score.”
The Bruins will attempt to close the point gap in the playoff race and add a sixth win to their streak tomorrow night as they welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets back to the TD Garden.