After splitting their first road trip of the season, the Boston Bruins kicked off a three-game homestand last Monday night against the Ottawa Senators, and they played a complete dud in a 4-1 loss. However, they finished off the stretch of home games with dominating wins over the Utah Mammoth and Philadelphia Flyers.
Now, the Black and Gold begin a four-game road trip on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks, and they get defenseman Charlie McAvoy back from his suspension. Here are three winners and a loser from the Bruins' three-game homestand as they head west now.
Winner: Jeremy Swayman
There was nothing he could have done about the loss to the Senators. He was left hanging out to dry by his teammates. None of the goals were his fault. Turnovers and just the inability to make simple plays were ugly from the drop of the puck. However, he was under fire against Utah, despite winning the game by five goals.
Boston was outshot 37-22 in the game, including 17-9 in the first period, and Boston held a 3-0 lead going into the intermission. He kept his shutout intact until the third period. His workload was less on Saturday against the Flyers, needing just to make just 14 saves. However, when he needed to make a save, he did.
Loser: Boston Bruins power play
For one night, the goose egg was removed from the power play unit with three goals against the Mammoth, but man, the other two nights against the Senators and Flyers, the man advantage stunk. Everything went right against Utah, but against Ottawa and Philadelphia, it looked like it did in the first four games. One good game isn't going to make many people feel good about it until there is consistency.
Winner: Marco Sturm
It's not easy to make changes early in a season, but the changes from head coach Marco Sturm had two days to make some changes after the loss to the Senators. He did, and boy, did they work out. His offense exploded for 11 goals over the final two games. He reunited Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, and David Pastrnak, while dropping Elias Lindholm down to the third line. So far, so good.
Winner: Mason Lohrei
One thing the Black and Gold are going to need this season is production from the defense, and Mason Lohrei gave it to them against Utah and Philadelphia. He joined the three-goal first period with a goal that chased Mammoth goalie Sebastian Cossa from the game and then gave Boston some breathing room in the second period against the Flyers with a snipe for a 2-0 lead. Lohrei has been good to begin the season in the first six games.
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