Boston Bruins: Blue-line injuries are starting to prove problematic

The Boston Bruins used to have always reliable and steady defensive corps.

The Boston Bruins were known for shutting games down, standing up for their teammates and supporting the offense. That hasn’t been the case during the past few weeks.

Last week, the Boston Bruins lost three out of four games, giving up a total of 13 goals. On Tuesday in Columbus, the Bruins chose not to respond on Emil Bemstrom‘s hit to the head of Tuukka Rask, which caused the Bruins’ goaltender to go down the tunnel and out. There hasn’t been anybody to respond for the Bruins bar Zdeno Chara it seems.

On Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Bruins continued to make mistakes defensively. Defenseman John Moore logged only 10 shifts after he failed to defend Sidney Crosby behind the net on the first Penguins’ goal. Moore finished the afternoon with the lowest ice-time on the Bruins.

If the Bruins Head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to sit Moore, who is next man up?

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Answer; it’s Steven Kampfer. Apart from him, the Bruins are short on defensive options. After so much talk about the defensive depth being so important, the Boston Bruins might really need to scout the trade market in a search for a defenseman if current trends continue.

Bruins fans remember that playoff series versus the Ottawa Senators in 2017, where Boston had to go as down as far as the tenth defenseman on the roster.

Besides, having Matt Grzelcyk and/or Moore to constantly play on their off-side is not making any sense. Both are lefties, both feel comfortable the most on the left side. The Boston Bruins are missing two important right-shot defensemen – Kevan Miller and Connor Clifton.

Both Miller and Clifton can bring physicality to the table, that’s something that the Bruins missed in Columbus. More than that, even if Cassidy wanted to sit Moore and challenge him to win back his playing time, apart from Kampfer, he possesses no alternate option.

Miller is supposed to be out for a while, still. Clifton should come back as soon as the start of February. He last played a game on December 29 versus the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden and is still presently on the shelf with that upper-body injury.

The Bruins started the season playing Zdeno Chara with Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo with Torey Krug and Matt Grzelcyk with Connor Clifton.

Before injuries and disruptions occurred, the Boston Bruins’ defense was like a well-oiled machine. It’s not that way anymore. The absences of Miller and Clifton are certainly starting to catch up to them. How long can they stem the leak?