Boston Bruins: Things are about to heat up for the B’s

With the Boston Bruins finally nearing the end of their de facto bye week, things are about to heat up for the Black and Gold. Starting with the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, the Bruins will play six games in 10 days.

Thanks to their two huge layoffs so far, the Bruins are tied for the least games played in the league at 13. How this ridiculous schedule ever got approved is a story for another day, but we’ve seen plenty to start to draw some conclusions about this team, with the quarter-season mark in sight.

Boston Bruins- The Good

As has become yearly tradition, this edition of the Boston Bruins are heavily reliant on their dominant first line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. And once again, they have been truly outstanding.

They are the team’s top three in points, while Marchand and Bergeron lead the team in goals with eight and six respectively. Bergeron, meanwhile, is winning an absurd 62 percent of his faceoffs.

Not to be forgotten, the Bruins second line has contributed more than in recent years. While Craig Smith has missed time and hasn’t managed to score in the time he has been healthy, Charlie Coyle and Taylor Hall have combined for nine goals so far. Hopefully, they will be able to not only keep it rolling, but step up even more once Smith returns.

The Boston Bruins have also received quality goaltending in their first season post Tuukka Rask. Jeremy Swayman has been nails, currently ranked seventh in the league with a 2.16 GAA. While offseason signing Linus Ullmark hasn’t been as good, he has been serviceable while playing to a 3.01 GAA.

Swayman has undoubtedly seized the title of No.1 as he has continued the strong play that he showcased at the end of last season. As the B’s continue their first season without a proven goalie in more than a decade, they will be relying on him to stay at that level.

The biggest development of the season, however, is undoubtedly the leveling up of Charlie McAvoy. Since signing his massive extension this offseason, McAvoy has done nothing but exceed expectations. In the Bruins’ 13 games, Charlie has put together 12 points, all while playing solid defense and quarterbacking their successful powerplay.

While McAvoy isn’t likely to continue to be a point-per-game player from the blue line, he’s on track to shatter his career high of 32 points by mid-January. We all know what Matt Grzelcyk can do offensively, and having another defenseman capable of creating is a tremendous asset for the Boston Bruins.

Boston Bruins- The Bad

For as great as the Bruins top two lines have been, the bottom two have been… not.

Among players who have spent meaningful time on the third and fourth lines, only Jake DeBrusk has multiple goals with three. Everyone else has three combined. And even for Debrusk, two of his three goals came in his first four games, meaning he has scored one in the last nine.

It seems to be the same old story for the Boston Bruins. A great first line and not much else. At least this year they have something that can pass for a second line with Hall and Coyle. The bottom six, which they spent most of free agency trying to address, has been a complete black hole.

How does it look for the Boston Bruins going forward?

All in all, it’s been a bit of an up and down start for the B’s. Sitting at 8-5-0 and fifth in the Atlantic Division, the Bruins are well positioned to start making up ground as they play their games in hand.

They’ll need to get more from the roster to do so, however, as well as continue to get the greatness they’re used to from their top line. The schedule has not done the B’s any favors by not allowing them to get into any sort of rhythm, but this next week and a half will give them that chance.