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Bruins home/away goal differential early in 2021 is concerning

By Scott Roche

Jan 14, 2021; Newark, New Jersey, USA; The Boston Bruins celebrate a goal by Boston Bruins left wing Nick Ritchie (21) during the third period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2021; Newark, New Jersey, USA; The Boston Bruins celebrate a goal by Boston Bruins left wing Nick Ritchie (21) during the third period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Bruins have played four games at home inside the TD Garden and four more on the road early in the 2021 season with different results.

There has been a significant difference in goal production between games on the road and at home. In the NHL, that is common especially early in the season, but it is a trend that sometimes evens out.

For the success of the Bruins this season, they better hope that those trends end up evening out.

Bruins’ goal home/away goal differential in 2021 is a big difference early in the season.

Boston has scored six goals in their four road games, but did score their season-high Saturday night in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. In their season-opening three-game road trip, the Bruins struggled to find the back of the net against the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders.

In their first two games against the Devils, Mackenzie Blackwood held the Bruins to two power play goals in the first game by Nick Ritchie and Brad Marchand, before a Patrice Bergeron shorthanded goal was the only goal Blackwood allowed in a 2-1 OT win for New Jersey in the second game.

Two nights later on Long Island, Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov turned back all 27 Bruins shot in a 1-0 Isles victory.

Once the Black and Gold got back at home for a four-game homestand, their offense clicked against the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins in a four-game sweep.

Boston combined to score 17 goals in the four home games, including a six-goal outburst against Philly in the second game after they rallied for a crazy 5-4 come-from-behind shootout victory in the home opener.

Boston did not have the services of their leading scorer from a year ago in David Pastrnak in the first seven games, but got him back Saturday night against the Caps and he was on the ice for all three Bruins goals.

Is it a coincidence that the night Boston gets back Pasta, they score a season-high three goals on the road? Maybe, maybe not. In the loaded East Division, any points collected on the road will be key for a playoff push and a top-four finish in the standings. That would require the Bruins to start producing more goals on the road and Saturday night was a good start, despite the result.

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