Boston Bruins: Is this latest winning streak for real?

The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, having already had a six-game one earlier this season. Is it for real?

We ask this question because the last time the Boston Bruins went on a winning streak, they then turned around and dropped four straight games (albeit 2 of those losses went to shootouts).

Perhaps the key to knowing whether this streak is for real or not is the way the team is defending. Some of this can rightfully be attributed to the goaltending while some can be attributed to the defense finally finding their feet this year.

In the six-game streak in October, we had one shut-out but conceded 13 goals in those 6 wins. This current seven-game streak, we haven’t kept the net empty on any given night yet but have only conceded 12.

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That is a difference of 0.45 goals against per game; a margin that could be the difference between a wild-card opponent or an Atlantic Division opponent come the season end.

What’s more, the team is scoring more evenly. The early season was punctuated by point scoring coming from two key players, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

While this current streak has had its’ fair share of them putting up the points (Pastrnak’s hat-trick versus Montreal comes to mind); the points are coming more evenly from throughout the Boston Bruins line-up.

Looking ahead at the fixture list, we will very shortly find out just how real the streak is. The Boston Bruins will face the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow, who will be looking to show off their offensive pedigree – they scored 4 or more goals in 7 of their games last month.

Likewise, the Colorado Avalanche on December 7th will prove another stiff test; their +22 differential is only bested by the Boston Bruins, with their Goals For total of 97 only 2 behind the Bruins.

These two games though are the build-up to the big one this month with the first-place Boston Bruins facing the second-place Washington Capitals on December 11th and just before Christmas on December 23rd.

If the Bruins can come out of those two fixtures with at least two points then it’s safe to say we’re most definitely contenders this year and the current streak is absolutely real. If, however, we come out with nothing from that pair – it’s not the worst thing in the world.

Our nearest Atlantic Division rival, the Florida Panthers lags 12 points behind us in the standings despite only playing one game less than us; it’d take another losing streak for them to get within touching distance.

Given we’ve managed to continue racking up wins whilst Patrice Bergeron has missed the past four games, I think it’s blatantly clear that this current streak is for real.

The team has found it’s feet and while it does still rely heavily on Pastrnak and Marchand, the rest of the guys have started to step up and it shows.