Some Bruins Thoughts Following Two Wins

It was been two games since Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney made a pair of trades to upgrade the Black and Gold’s roster for the stretch run. On the surface, the returns have been good, but remember, it’s only two games.

Here are some Bruins thoughts as we look towards the second game against the New York Islanders tonight at the TD Garden on a rare back-to-back following last night’s Bruins 4-1 victory.

• Mike Reilly has been what the Bruins needed on the blue line, a puck-moving defenseman. Add in the fact that he plays well in all three zones, this has the makings of a steal at the trade deadline. A free agent following the season, he certainly would look good in a Boston uniform beyond this season. The Bruins could have a sneaky good defensive unit in the postseason, should they get there of course.

• Anders Bjork and the Bruins second-round pick in July’s Entry Draft was all it took to get Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar. Hard to believe.
• Yes, Tuukka Rask’s return Thursday night was a nice sight, but if Rask and Halak are done after this season in Boston, the Bruins are set quite nicely between the pipes for the future with Jeremy Swayman and Dan Vladar.
• The power play is quietly becoming something of a concern for the Bruins. While the unit was blistering hot to begin the season, it has become non-productive lately. Boston will need it producing as they rely on it a lot of times for production. That’s not good, but with the lack of secondary scoring, they need to take advantage of their opportunities.
• David Pastrnak is getting closer to finding the back of the net. It’s coming.
• It’s only two games, but Curtis Lazar has injected some life into the Bruins fourth line. With Chris Wagner and Sean Kuraly, the trio has brought some energy and a lift to the ice with each shift. Might see Trent Frederic get a shot soon with Lazar.
• It won’t be easy because they have nothing to play for and are playing free and easy, but the three games next week on the road against the Sabres will go a long way in determining the Black and Gold’s playoff fate. Nothing breaking any news there.

• Many people (myself included) did not know what Kevan Miller had left in the tank for this season, but when he missed 46 days with a setback to his surgically repaired knee, it would not have surprised anyone if his time here was done. Over the last week, since he returned, he was a big reason the Bruins won three of the four games he played in.