Boston Bruins: 3 players who need to improve in Round 2

By Sam Minton | May 27, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins celebrates a third period goal with Brad Marchand #63 against the Washington Capitals during Game Five of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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Boston Bruins defenseman Mike Reilly (6) (Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports) /

Boston Bruins: 3 players who need to improve in Round 2 – No.2: Mike Reilly

When Mike Reilly joined the Boston Bruins he was lighting the hockey world on fire. He was looking fantastic and showed just how smart of a man Don Sweeney was at the trade deadline.

In 15 games for the Bruins, Reilly had eight assists. He was making all the right plays and looked great. Before the playoffs began Reilly began to cool down and that was the case in the playoffs.

To Reilly’s credit he led Boston in plus-minus with a personal rating of five, but he was only able to tally two assists. More importantly, there were times were Reilly was way too sloppy.

Against the Islanders, Reilly needs to make cleaner passes and better decisions. Boston’s blue line can’t afford to make mistakes.

Also against Washington, the Bruins blue line as a whole struggled to clear the puck out of the zone. Reilly and the rest of Boston’s blue line will need to do a much better job against the Islanders.

Hopefully against New York, Reilly will be able to make more of an impact and return to that high level of play that he had when he first joined the Bruins.

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