The break can do some teams some good and others harm. The gap cannot come soon enough if you are in a slump. However, if you are a team that is on a hot streak, the break can throw you off your streak. Despite the 2022-23 Boston Bruins being one of the best teams all season long, they have been slumping, and the break cannot come soon enough. Fortunately, they bounced back in a 5-2 victory against division-rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 2022-23 Boston Bruins Need The Break
For the first time all season long, the Boston Bruins are facing adversity. They are in the midst of their biggest losing streak, having lost three games in a row, but got one as the break begins. This season has been a great ride and much more joy than pain. Currently, the Bruins have the league’s best record (39-7-4), scored 190 goals, and allowed the least (108). Special teams are at the top of the league—just an absurd run for the Bruins.
Unfortunately, this level of play isn’t sustainable all season long, and bad stretches are bound to happen in an 82-game season. But this stretch of play is the worst, and the break is necessary for them to reset. Now that the break has arrived, what needs to happen once they return to game action?
Stay Healthy
They treaded water nicely, given the big names Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy out of the lineup to begin the year. For a team that has been as good as the Bruins, they have been blessed in the health department once they returned.
However, they have been bitten by the injury bug. Jake DeBrusk has returned to skating but still has a little ways to go. Tomas Nosek remains out. Getting DeBrusk back will be huge in terms of getting the lines back to normal and his added scoring. His net-front presence and chemistry on the top line are a significant boost.
Aside from that, it is just staying healthy. Injuries happen, and that’s the nature of the sport, but just not losing any critical members as the playoffs draw nearer is enormous.
Not Getting Complacent
The Bruins are experiencing the first set of adversity all season. Given the leadership and veteran presence in the locker room, this is something they can overcome. Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron said: “We talked about facing adversity at some point in the year, and here we are. We have to face that as a team together and roll up our sleeves and learn from what hasn’t been there the last few games.”
But the biggest hurdle is complacency. It is easy to get complacent, given the way things are going. The team refuses to lose. Anything is possible in this league, and you can never get complacent. There have been times when the team has played sluggishly, but they have found a way to win. Given the recent skid, here is how they’ve looked:
Corsi For: 43.92 (5th worst)
Expected Goals Percentage: 42.93 ( 7th worst)
High Danger Corsi For: 43.18% (7th worst), but 5th best over the entire month.
They have shot 26 times from the high-danger area and scored four goals.
These are not bad metrics, but considering these areas are greater overall, the play level has dropped. The team has been confident all season long, but with Toronto knocking on the door, they’d need to overcome complacency.
The Boston Bruins’ Powerplay
If there is one aspect of their game that needs to improve, it is the power play unit. It is as lethal as any given the caliber of talent on the top unit. But as of late, the power play has gone stale and is not the bread and butter it was to start the year. With Bergeron at the bumper and David Pastrnak in his office, you’d think it would still be clicking.
In January, Boston had 40 opportunities and cashed in seven times. In addition, as the season has been progressing, they have scored less time with each passing month.
December: 51 opportunities; 12 goals
November: 49 opportunities; 17 goals
October: 34 opportunities; 8 goals
In addition, they are 0/12 in their last three games and had one opportunity in Toronto. The team still has one of the best units in the league (6th; 25.3% success rate) and has the firepower to keep it that way. Overall, they can work through and improve, but it is not something to panic about.
No Need To Panic
The Bruins are going to be fine. They still have the league’s best record. There are things that they need to work on, and the break comes at a perfect time for them to do that. Adversity and a lull in their season are bound to happen, and it is better to happen now than in April.
Statistics Come From Natural Stat Trick
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