As we celebrate Thanksgiving let’s look at why we should be thankful for this year’s Boston Bruins team.
The Boston Bruins have been dealt a pretty bad hand this season. Injuries are taking more and more players off the ice, but somehow the Bruins are still surviving.
Boston is doing pretty well so far this season. They are in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. When you looked at how stacked the Atlantic division is you have to be pleased with this spot.
The Bruins have the ability to make a run in the playoffs. They have plenty of scoring options and have been able to succeed with the odds stacked against them.
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So let’s look at the 3 reasons Bruins fans should be thankful for this year’s squad.
1. Players are stepping up
With all these injuries, some players have had to step up and get some major ice time. This has mainly happened on defense. The Bruins are just starting to get guys back.
Matt Grzelcyk stepped up early in the season when Torey Krug was out. He looked great leading the power play and has developed into a fine defenseman.
Jeremy Lauzon was also called up from Providence and has looked great. He just plays a clean game and was even able to secure the first goal of his career.
Boston hasn’t had a ton of injuries to their forwards up until Patrice Bergeron, but one guy has looked great since coming to Boston. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson has finally flourished into the player Bruins fans were hoping for.
JFK has helped to revitalize the Bruins 3rd line and also was able to secure the first goal of his career.
The Bruins young players have stepped up to the plate this season.
2. There is plenty of scoring
The Bruins have lit the lamp a lot this season. This is always fun to watch as a fan but also is important to the Bruins success. When they are scoring in bunches they are able to take the pressure off of their goaltenders.
Boston’s best player so far this season has been David Pastrnak. In just 20 games Pastrnak has 17 goals and 8 assists. He is leading the NHL in goals and is an early candidate for the Hart Trophy.
This has been the season that Bruins fans have been waiting for from Pasta. He has struggled to score consistently but now he is finally putting it all together.
Jake DeBrusk has also been great as of late. He has 5 goals and an assist in just 6 games. The 2nd line winger struggled early on to find the back of the net. Now it looks like DeBrusk can’t be stopped.
As long as the Bruins continue to score they will have a successful season.
3. Jaroslav Halak
Without Jaroslav Halak, the Bruins could be at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Halak has been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL so far this season.
Tuukka Rask once again started the season off terribly. He was letting in goal after goal. Halak performed well just when the Bruins needed him.
Halak is 7-2-2 with a .935 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average. He has looked like the starting goaltender, not Rask.
Rask has returned from his leave of absence and has looked solid. His first game back was his best game of the season.
If Halak and Rask can play well the Bruins will be able to dominate teams. It’s hard to lose when you aren’t allowing goals. This takes some of the pressure off of the offense. Instead of having to score 4 or 5 goals a night they just need 2 or 3.
So things aren’t so bad for the Boston Bruins. They still have a good shot at lifting the Stanley Cup when the season is over.