Boston Bruins: The good, the bad and the ugly against Philadelphia

The good: Bruins still managed to earn a point

You can’t overlook or understate the fact that the Boston Bruins, despite a lacklustre display, still managed to take a point from this game. That could be the difference between home advantage come play-off time. Every point counts the same, after all.

Given how lop-sided the first period seemed, it’s a wonder that the Boston Bruins were able to eventually get themselves back into the game, but I guess it says a lot for the team’s resilience and the fatigue of a Flyers side that was on the tail-end of an Atlantic Division back-to-back.

Jaroslav Halak, in net on the night, came up big on a few occasions during the early barrage of shots and could easily be seen as the difference-maker for the Bruins; if they went in at the break down by three, suddenly the mountain to climb is that much steeper.

Even more satisfying for Boston fans has to be the fact that the goals didn’t come from the usual suspects; whilst David Pastrnak did have a chance with a penalty shot and Brad Marchand still tallied, it was Danton Heinen grabbing the other goal.

In fact, beyond Pastrnak and Marchand, it was the likes of Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Anders Bjork picking up the numbers on the shot count.

So while the end result wasn’t perfect, the fact that finally there’s some secondary scoring coming and the fact that it’s not just the top line putting shots on net means there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s also not forget that the Boston Bruins were missing an important (even if he hasn’t really been scoring) member of their second line in Jake Debrusk.

To still take points when they’ve had to promote Zach Senyshyn and Anders Bjork from Providence, neither of whom is seeing that much ice-time, says a lot about the character of the team, if nothing else.