Boston Bruins: 3 Stars of January
The Boston Bruins are off to a fast start in the newly minted East Division and through the first eight games, three names have stood out amongst the rest at 5-1-2. A beast of an East Division hasn’t seemed to faze this Bruins team. Most recently sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins in back-to-backs, the Big Bad Bruins look to be approaching wagon status.
The fact that they have done this through their first seven games without their 2020 leading scorer and Rocket Richard winner David Pastrnak has to excite Boston Bruins fans.
There have been a lot of players that have stepped up for this Bruins team from their star players to rookies who are fighting for a spot in this lineup. Let’s take a look at who led the way for the month of January.
Boston Bruins honourable mentions.
One of the rookies making a name for himself, Trent Frederic has found a nice spot for himself on the third line. Frederic will probably never be a top-six forward in the NHL, but he has the skill and speed to keep up with big guns. The toughness and grit he brings to the table is also something Boston Bruins fans have to love. This guy exemplifies Bruins hockey.
Undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the Boston Bruins season so far, Nick Ritchie has seven points in eight games and ranks third on the team in points. Ritchie is getting first power play minutes and has found a spot for himself in front of the net.
3rd Star – Jaroslav Halak
The Boston Bruins goalie tandem has been dynamic this season and Halak has put up impressive numbers so far.
Tuukka Rask is still the man for the Boston Bruins and has had some insane performances so far. When you look at the record and numbers though, Jaroslav Halak continues to show he is the best backup in the NHL.
Holding a 1.30 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, Halak is currently fourth in the league in GAA and seventh in SV%.
In today’s NHL, the backup goalie position is more important than ever, and having a guy the Boston Bruins can depend on night in and night out between the pipes is a huge thing.
2nd Star – Charlie McAvoy
With lots of fluctuation in the Boston Bruins defence corps, Charlie McAvoy has become a true number one.
With the departure of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug this offseason, there were more questions than answers at the back end. Charlie McAvoy has stepped up and taken on the leadership role for the Boston Bruins defence.
Currently holding six assists through eight games, McAvoy has found the offensive side of his game as much as the defensive side.
McAvoy has become the workhorse on the back end and has been logging near twenty-five minutes a game for the Bruins. Look for him to continue that trend.
1st Star – Brad Marchand
The left-winger of the Boston Bruins ‘Perfection Line’ hasn’t skipped a beat since returning from sports hernia surgery.
You can’t keep a good man down. Brad Marchand came out of the gate fast as usual and is currently tied for fifth in league scoring. After finishing sixth in league scoring in 2020, he looks to be gunning for that top spot yet again.
The ‘Perfection Line’ with center Patrice Bergeron rolled without Pastrnak through the first seven games and Bergeron is second in points on the Bruins with 10.
Marchand’s evolution to the player he is today is something that most people would candidly say they couldn’t have predicted. He is still the pest that makes him the sworn enemy of every other team and fanbase in the league, but us Bruins fans love him to death.
His hands are probably the most underrated in the NHL and you can guarantee he will pull a few shifty moves that can take your breath away and give his line scoring chances every game.
Marchand is also a preeminent shorthanded threat and can create something out of nothing with his speed and skill. He had a beauty solo effort against the Penguins this past week.
Boston Bruins look to February.
The Boston Bruins schedule in February is extremely beatable with what looks like could be a fully healthy team. Multiple meetings with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Rangers should be competitive but winnable games for the Bruins.
Next. Boston Bruins: Regulation Wins Carry More Weight in 2021. dark
The beast of the East division doesn’t slow down though and the Boston Bruins will have to be ready to roll every night.