So far in January, the Boston Bruins‘ offensive has been unstoppable. Through the first seven games of the month, Boston has gone 6-1-0 and scored 33 goals. While they have gotten contributions from every line, one player who has stepped up is Erik Haula. Although the veteran winger got off to a slow start, he has been a different player in the new year.
Through seven games this month, Haula has five points. As the secondary scoring has come alive, the Finnish native has been a regular on the score sheet. While Haula is playing his best hockey of the season, he is being more aggressive with the puck.
Over the last two weeks, the 30-year-old has seemingly made a difference in every game. He is only shooting the puck 5.7 percent of the time this year, but has already landed nine shots on net this month. During that span he also recorded his first power-play point of the season. Due to his recent play, Haula is only five assists short of matching his total from his 2020-2021 campaign.
Erik Haula (@EHaula) speeding to the net. 💨 pic.twitter.com/ZwNNqhIwlB
— NHL (@NHL) January 2, 2022
While Haula is excelling offensively, he is making a difference at both ends of the ice. Over his last five games, the Finnish native has landed 11 hits. He has not been afraid of sacrificing his body and blocked three shots in that span. On Wednesday night, in a physical game against Montreal, he didn’t back down from a challenge.
Erik Haula is proving his value in his first season with the Bruins
Although the regular season is far from over, Haula has proved his value of late. The former seventh-round pick has already passed his hits total from last year. He has also been effective in the faceoff circle, with a 50.5 percent winning percentage. As the Bruins look to continue their recent play, he will be a player to watch.
During the start of 2022, Haula’s play has made the Bruins’ second line a problematic matchup for opponents. The veteran forward is also becoming a fan favorite which was on display against Montreal. As the Bruins have switched up their lines to create offense, Haula is showing the impact he can make offensively.
After entering January with four assists, Haula has almost matched that total in 12 days. While Boston has played their best hockey in months, the former 181st overall pick has helped spark the secondary scoring.
With points at a premium, his recent production has been critical in the new year and made the Bruins a more challenging team to face.