Boston Bruins Three Stars: October
By Jay Peterson
It cannot be said enough that the recent success of the Boston Bruins has been due to a complete team effort. Everyone seems to be putting their best foot forward and playing the game the way it’s suppose to be played. Even the players that get scratched on some occasions are doing excellent work. This outstanding effort from all Bruins players makes it very difficult to name only three performances in particular, but here we go.
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Third Star: Torey Krug
The biggest concern going into this regular season was the Boston Bruins defense. With Dennis Seidenberg injured and Zdeno Chara day to day, Torey Krug was relied on as a leader, both on and off the ice. It was a rare thing to see Krug play any more than twenty minutes a game in the past, but, when the team needed him to upgrade his role, he did not disappoint.
Torey Krug has played an average of twenty three minutes per game and has a plus 4 rating to show for it. The eight assists in ten games is equally impressive, but the fact that Krug’s defensive game is now good enough that he can take on that much ice time and responsibility is an incredibly good sign. It is his ability to take on these minutes so the younger, less experienced, defenseman don’t have to that has made the Bruins improve their defensive game as the season has progressed.
Oct 17, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) looks on during a face off during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Second Star: Zdeno Chara
As good as Torey Krug was this month, the Bruins captain was even better. During his absence, the Boston Bruins did not look good, at all. Once Chara returned, the team seemed more comfortable and confident. While it is true that just his presence alone can improve the Boston Bruins play, Zdeno Chara has also been able to put up excellent individual stats.
Due to his injury, Chara has only played in eight games this season. In those eight games, he has posted seven points, along with an incredible plus 7 rating. He has recorded five power play points (like Krug) and also has a shorthanded point. He has excelled in every aspect of the game thus far and is the biggest reason why the Bruins are where they are in the standings.
Oct 31, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) controls the puck in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
First Star: David Krejci
While I would argue that Zdeno Chara deserves the MVP award for October, you just can’t argue with David Krejci’s stats. Currently third in the NHL in points with 15, Krejci has been all over the ice and has been taking advantage of every opportunity he has been given. A healthy David Krejci is always a threat, but what we saw this October was something else.
With Claude Julien looking for chemistry throughout the lineup, Krejci was put with a variety of different wingers. He also took the role of playing one of the points on the Bruins first power play unit. This ability to adapt and be effective in every scenario he is placed in makes Krejci the perfect offensive weapon. It will be very difficult for Krejci to remain a top scorer in the league, since the Bruins play a deep system of rolling all four of their lines, when able. However, the expectation that Krejci can remain well above a point per game is not out of the question.
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The honorable mentions for this month would be too long to list, but I would like to acknowledge the line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Brett Connolly, who have come together very nicely. They all have four or more goals and only trail David Krejci for most on the team. To have all of these players playing at this level has been a real treat, and I hope that this becomes a normal thing in Boston in the coming months.
To make your selections for this month’s three stars, post in the comment section below. For more access to all things Boston Bruins, follow 29Bruins on Twitter.