It’s been pretty good lately to be on the Boston Bruins, and also to be a fan of the Boston Bruins. They are 49-8-5, have won 10 straight games, have 103 points, and have a stunning +105 goal differential. Lately, new addition Dmitry Orlov has been a sparkplug on the back end.
The Bruins have very strong depth on the back end, with each of Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo, Connor Clifton, and Derek Forbort having games off since Orlov was added. After the end of last week, the NHL announced on Monday that Orlov was the first star of the past week.
It’s a very deserving honor for Orlov since joining the Bruins. After he went pointless in his first game, he immediately turned up the offense. It started in the Bruins 3-2 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers when he had two assists. The very next day, he had two goals and one assist in a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames.
When the Bruins returned home following the road trip sweep, Orlov potted another goal to go along with a pair of assists in a 7-1 rout of the Buffalo Sabres on the TD Garden ice. In the most recent game against the New York Rangers, Orlov picked up a single assist in the Bruins 4-2 win.
That week was a strong first impression for Orlov, who already has three goals and six assists for nine points in five games as a Bruin. For reference, he had 19 points in 43 games with the Washington Capitals this season.
Right now, with 28 points in 48 games this season, Orlov is a mere seven points behind his career high of 35 points in a season, set last season with the Capitals. If he keeps producing this much, or even produces less, it’s not a stretch to say that Orlov looks pretty well positioned to blow past his previous career high in points and set a new best this year with the black and gold.
Orlov was already a very solid pickup at the deadline by the Bruins as a defenseman who can play both sides. With his current offensive heater, it’s a pickup that looks even better as they only had to shed a probable late first round pick, a fourth round pick, and Craig Smith to get him along with Hathaway. It was a very good piece of business for Don Sweeney, and I sure hope it helps the team win the Stanley Cup this summer.