After starting their season with a perfect 6-0 record, the Boston Bruins squandered a two-goal lead in the final four minutes of regulation, ultimately losing to the Anaheim Ducks in overtime 4-3 Thursday evening. As the old saying goes, “there is no such thing as perfect.”
Granted, it seems a bit bizarre to harp on a team currently without a regulation loss. But by and large, Boston has survived some early scares thanks to timely scoring and clutch goaltending. While on the topic, goaltender Linus Ullmark’s loss was the first time this season a Bruins goalie sacrificed more than two goals in a game. Hardly his fault, but a telling realization.
Head coach Jim Montgomery spoke candidly following his teams first defeat of the new campaign: “(team) scoring, in general, is going to be a work in progress”. Again, a strange thing to mention about a team with 13 points through 7 games. But, looking over the stats, there is a legitimate gripe to be had.
Unsurprisingly, David Pastrnak leads all Bruins in offensive production with 6-4-10 through seven games. Rounding out the top four scoring Bruins are Brad Marchand 4-3-7, Matt Poitras 3-2-5, and James van Riemsdyk 3-2-5. But after Trent Frederic two goals through seven games, the Bruins feature four players with one goal and 12 players yet to find the back of the net. Of those 12 players, four haven’t recorded a point.
Based on free agent signings and solidified by training camp lineups- you got the sense that winning by committee was the solution to replacing Patrice Bergeron (58) and David Krejci’s (56) accumulative 114 points from last year. However, to win in that fashion requires, well, a committee.
Montgomery is delivering a message in clear terms; more can collectively be given. One can’t help but feel this message is particularly aimed at both Pavel Zacha 1-2-3 and Jake DeBrusk 0-2-2. With the former elevated to top-6 center duty and the ladder with his current contract set to expire at season’s end. Both players were key producers during Boston’s historic run last year but, statistically speaking, have yet to replicate their success.
Another sign of a ticked-off coach is 11:30 a.m. Friday practice after a long road trip. During which, Montgomery took the liberty of tinkering with his lines, something he’s become quite accustomed to.
First Line: Heinen-Zacha-Pastrnak
Second Line: DeBrusk-Poitras-Geekie
Third Line: van Riemsdyk-Coyle-Frederic
Fourth Line: Boqvist-Beecher-Brown
First Pairing: Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Second Pairing: Lindholm-Carlo
Third Pairing: Forbort-Shattenkirk
Boston’s power play lines were adjusted as well.
PP1: van Riemsdyk Pastrnak-Coyle-Zacha McAvoy
PP2: DeBrusk Poitras-Geekie-Shattenkirk Lindholm
Few things to note: Marchand had a maintenance day, and Danton Heinen, while practicing with Boston, is yet to sign a contract. So it’s safe to assume Marchand will slide into Heinen’s spot, and the rest of the lines will remain as they are.
Getting back on track begins Saturday night. Boston begins a four-game stretch against division opponents, the first of which against the Detroit Red Wings at home. To be clear, Boston is far from lacking the talent to qualify for the playoffs; that has never been a concern. Mental lapses, like in the final four minutes against Anaheim, along with too top heavy scoring, are the concerns. In fact, those are exactly what keeps talented teams on the outside looking in.
