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Boston Bruins: Who’s hot and who’s not in the first week?

By jc

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 03: Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) blocks a shot during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on October 03, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 03: Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) blocks a shot during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on October 03, 2019 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 03: Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins looks on during warm ups before Game Four of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on June 03, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JUNE 03: Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins looks on during warm ups before Game Four of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on June 03, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Hot: Brandon Carlo

Throughout Boston’s first two games, Brandon Carlo was the team’s most reliable defender. Carlo had strong games and rarely made any mistakes.

Carlo was a rock in the opener against the Stars. He played over 19 minutes and finished with one blocked shot and one takeaway. He also made a few aggressive pinches in the neutral zone to win the puck.

Carlo elevated his game on the penalty kill. He led the Bruins in shorthanded time on ice with 2:23. This was almost a minute more than the next player.

Although the Bruins were on their heels at times against the Coyotes, Carlo looked calm. He even contributed some offense with two shots on goal.

Again, Carlo led the Bruins in shorthanded time on ice, and he was one of the best penalty killers. In the third period, for example, he didn’t panic with the puck behind the net, assessed his surroundings, and then found space for a clearance.

Carlo won’t be an offensive dynamo on Boston’s backend. He does, however, do things that don’t show up on the scoresheet. He had a great start to this season, and he looks set to be a shutdown defenseman for the Bruins.

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