After winning four of their first six games, the Boston Bruins headed out on a four-game West Coast road trip that was going to offer a lot more answers as to whether or not the start to the season was something that is sustainable.
Boston swept the three California games against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings, outscoring the three teams combined, 14-5. They finished the trip on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars and fell, 3-2, in overtime. However, earning seven of a possible eight points was not something many, if any, fans had on their bingo card when the trip started in Northern California.
Sitting 7-2-1 coming home, the Bruins will host the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at the TD Garden. However, their surge out West opened some eyes, and when it comes to power rankings, they are quickly skyrocketing up the ranks with the top teams in the NHL.
Bruins continue moving up NHL power rankings
The first 10 games are encouraging to begin the season, but there is a lot of hockey left to be played, and the Eastern Conference is stacked with talented teams. One bad week, and you could go from sitting pretty well in the standings to being on the outside looking in. In a pair of power rankings from Bleacher Report and CBS Sports, the Bruins' stock is quickly rising.
Bleacher Report moved the Bruins from No. 12 to No. 5, up seven spots from last week, by Lyle Fitzsimmons. He pointed out one flaw in the Black and Gold a year ago, and the team is already heading in the right direction.
"The Bruins made one of the league's longest trips to California but came away with three wins after beating San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. Boston was tied for 26th in the league last season with just 16 road wins in 41 games,'' Fitzsimmons wrote.
As far as Austin Nivison of CBS Sports goes, he jumped the Black and Gold up eight spots to No. 10, which was a surprise, as they were not a little higher.
"The Bruins' annual push to make me look like a moron has commenced. Jeremy Swayman is once again leading the charge with 7.97 goals saved above average as he erases every mistake Boston makes in front of him,'' Nivison writes.
Again, it's still early in the season, and after being on the road for nearly two weeks between home games, the next two games at home against the Predators and Sharks are going to be interesting. They are dangerous games where the Bruins collecting no points would be considered disappointing. Good teams respond, and we'll see just how good the Bruins are.
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