The 2022-23 regular season was historic for the Boston Bruins. The team bulldozed through the NHL, finishing with a record 65 wins before losing in the first round in shocking fashion to the Florida Panthers, a team that had 43 fewer points than Boston during the year. The Bruins lost just 12 games in regulation all year.
This season was supposed to be different. The Bruins are without two all-time centers and brought in some veterans to attempt to fill the void. Many thought the Bruins would be a playoff team but would not be able to keep the same pace as they had last season. This is a different team with different expectations.
Well, maybe that is changing after a four-game road trip that saw the Bruins beat San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Chicago in succession to improve their record to 6-0-0 for the first time since the 1937-38 season. Boston is off to a start that is even more impressive than last year when Boston lost their fourth game of the season. Here are three takeaways from Boston’s perfect road trip:
Matt Poitras Is Here To Stay
Matt Poitras passed another test with flying colors by being one of the best players on the ice for Boston throughout the trip. In the win over Anaheim, Poitras scored the game-tying and game-winning goals for his first two NHL strikes. In the victory over Chicago, Poitras blew by the defense and scored a beautiful goal to give Boston an insurance goal in a 3-0 win. The 2022 second-round draft pick has four points on the season and is settling into a second-line center role.
The Goaltending is Tops In The League….Again
Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have continued where they left off last season. Each goaltender is 3-0-0, and the two have a combined save percentage of .960 while stopping 166 of 173 shots. The tandem has been switching off every other game, and it has been a recipe for success this season. Last year, the pair earned the Jennings Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltending tandem. Ullmark has continued his great play after winning the Vezina Trophy last season.
The Bruins’ Defensive Structure Is Stifling
Boston has allowed just seven goals, which is the fewest in the league. Along with great goaltending, the defensive pairings have been strong, as well as a stout defensive structure that is a stark contrast from last season’s offensive juggernaut. The Bruins are winning differently than last year and shutting teams down. This is the style they will need to play consistently throughout the season to make the playoffs.
The Bruins look to win their seventh straight against the Ducks at home on Thursday night.
