Through the first11 games, the Boston Bruins sit alone in first place in the East Division at 8-1-2. It could be considered a little bit of a surprise considering that Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara left in free agency, leaving the Bruins with a young and inexperienced blue line to start the season.
Offensively, David Pastrnak missed the first seven games recovering from offseason hip surgery, which affected the forwards early on. Through the first 11 periods, Boston failed to score a 5-on-5 goal, but once they did, the flood gates opened. Add in two shootout wins, something the Black and Gold failed to do last season in seven tries and two overtime victories, it’s a recipe for early-season success.
The Bruins have endured multiple injuries to key players, but they still find ways to win games, especially in the third period where they have rallied to win their last three games. Here are three reasons for the Bruins’ early-season success in the 2021 season.
3. Bruins penalty kill ranks second after Friday’s game.
One of the strongest parts of the Bruins early in the season with their penalty kill. They have allowed just five goals on 41 chances through 11 games.
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron each already have a shorthanded goal, while Charlie Coyle, Chris Wagner, Anders Bjork, and Sean Kuraly have done a good job on the PK. Defensively, Brandon Carlo, Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakub Zboril are helping in front of goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak.
Only the Colorado Avalanche have a better penalty-killing unit than Boston early in the year. Killing penalties are going to be key in a shortened 56-game regular season in a new realigned division and will go a long way in helping them finish in the top four at the end of the year and get into the postseason.