One week ago, the Boston Bruins were coming off back-to-back 4-1 losses to the Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators. Those two losses dropped them to 2-2-0 on the young season and exposed some of the Black and Gold's biggest flaws.
However, after the loss to Ottawa, head coach Marco Sturm had a couple of days to make some changes and figure some things out. First, he had to figure out the struggling power play, as well as how to shake up his lines and find some offense. Easier said than done.
Some line changes and three games later, the Bruins are riding a three-game winning streak and starting to turn heads around the league. Lyle Fitzsimmons of Bleacher Report dropped his latest NHL Power Rankings, and the Bruins have quickly vaulted up the ranks, jumping eight spots to No. 12.
Bruins vault up eight spots in Bleacher Report's latest NHL Power Rankings
Wins over the Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers, and San Jose Sharks have the Bruins sitting at 5-2-0 for the season, with three more games remaining on their four-game road trip that ends with stops against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Dallas Stars. Three daunting tasks after a 6-3 win over the Sharks on Tuesday night. Regardless, Fitzsimmons was impressed with how the Black and Gold survived Charlie McAvoy's six-game suspension.
"The Bruins finished their six-game early-season purgatory without defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who was suspended for a slash on Buffalo forward Zach Benson in the playoffs. Boston was held to one goal twice, but scored 18 in the other four,'' wrote Fitzsimmons.
In the last three games, an offense that has struggled at times this season has scored at least five goals. They scored six against the Mammoth, with three of the goals coming on the power play. Unfortunately, those are the only man-advantage goals that the Bruins have in seven games. Two days later, they potted five goals against Philadelphia.
Against the Sharks, Boston again erupted for six goals, and that includes one goal called back early in the game for goalie interference. While finding the back of the net17 times in their last three games, the important stat is down the other end of the ice, where Boston and goalie Jeremy Swayman have allowed just five goals.
Are the Bruins one of the eight Eastern Conference playoff teams when all is said and done in 2026-27? That remains to be seen, but if they can continue to play the way they have, they are certainly going to be in the thick of things. Moving up eight spots in the latest power rankings is certainly eye-opening for Sturm and his club.
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