Boston Bruins: What a Difference a Week Makes

What a difference a week makes for the Boston Bruins.

Seven nights ago, the Black and Gold skated off of the TD Garden ice following an 8-1 loss at the hands of the first-place Washington Capitals. Things were looking bleak for the Bruins, who suffered a loss a deal earlier in Philadelphia against the Flyers.

However, what happened following the Caps games turned things around quickly in Boston.

Sweeney gives the Bruins’ roster a much-needed upgrade.

Less than an hour following the disastrous loss to Washington, it was announced that the Bruins had acquired left-shot defensemen, Mike Reilly, from the Ottawa Senators for a draft pick. General manager Don Sweeney added depth to a defensive group that has been devastated by injuries.

A few minutes later, word had leaked that Sweeney acquired Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ander Bjork and the Bruins’ 2021 second-round draft pick in July’s Entry Draft. It was thought that a right wing was needed at the deadline, but hey, getting a former Hart Trophy winner with the skill-set Hall has to help solve needs, you do it.

Following the loss to the Capitals, the B’s were in danger of falling out of playoff position as the New York Rangers have gotten hot, but seven days later, the Bruins are not only still sitting in fourth and final playoff spot position, but they are also closing in on the teams ahead of them in the East Division standings.

Bruins rip off four wins to close homestand.

Raise your hand if you saw this coming following last Sunday night’s blowout. Following the trades, the Bruins beat the Sabres in a shootout, swept two games on back-to-back nights against New York Islanders and then Sunday closed out the homestand with a 6-3 victory over the Caps.

Reilly has been a pleasant so far on defense, Lazar has brought energy to the fourth-line and Hall looks like a different player than he did in his 37 games with the Sabres. Heck, he’s already scored as many goals in Boston in four games than in did Buffalo this season.

The Bruins embark on a five-game road with three games in Western New York against the Sabres and a Sunday afternoon matinee in Pittsburgh next Sunday against the Penguins, before finishing the trip a week from Tuesday against the Pens.