Boston Bruins on historic pace heading into the new year
By Colin Lynch
The Boston Bruins, under first-year head coach Jim Montgomery, have been winning hockey games and collecting points at a pace that few NHL teams have ever done.
With their ability to put pressure on opposing net-minders, excellent team defense, and fantastic goalie play, the Bruins are currently posting a regular season for the record books.
Following their 3-1 road win over the Devils on Wednesday night, the Bruins find themselves atop the NHL with 59 points. That is 7 points higher than the Carolina Hurricanes, who sit in second place in the East, and 9 points higher than the Western Conference-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
Boston Bruins: A look at the numbers
The Bruins are currently on pace to collect 85.7 percent of their points for 142 total points this season. That is simply something the NHL has never seen.
The best NHL season in the modern salary cap era belongs to a team Bruins fans loath, the 2018-2019 Tampa Bay Lightning. That year Tampa was shockingly upset in the first round of the playoffs when they were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, Tampa made up for that major letdown by winning back-to-back Stanley Cups the following two years.
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In the long and storied history of the National Hockey League, just six teams have actually finished with a point percentage higher than .800. The team to complete that feat most recently did it in a severely shortened season caused by a lockout when the 2012 – 2013 Chicago Blackhawks finished 36-7-5 and collected 77 points finishing with a win percentage of .802.
To find the next team to finish above .800, you would have to look back 45 years when the Montreal Canadiens finished at .806.
A tip of the cap to Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery
Like many Bruins fans, I was not happy when news broke that the Bruins were parting ways with former Bruins head coach and current Vegas leader Bruce Cassidy. It felt like the Bruins were so close to getting over the top with Bruce, and denying him another season felt unfair. But the high-paced offense that preaches shots on the net brought in by Jim Montgomery has been exciting to watch and has done wonders for this Bruins squad, especially David Pastrnak.
Pastrnak not only leads the Bruins in shots and goals but also ranks fifth and sixth in the NHL, respectively, in goals and points.
The shift in philosophy has also helped Linus Ullmark. The Bruins goaltender leads the NHL in save percentage and owns a jaw-dropping 20-1-1 record. Helping Ullmark has been a reinvigorated Bruins defense. Hampus Lindholm has emerged as D-man 1A to Charlie McAvoy. Both are averaging close to a point per game, another by-product of the Montgomery system that has the offense playing deeper in the offensive zone and the defense closer to the blue line.
Next. Boston Bruins have turned into an absolute wagon in the NHL!. dark
Watching this edition of the Bruins has been an absolute joy. They play intelligent, hard-nosed hockey, and they really limit mistakes. They force the issue in the offensive end and highlight great team defense with phenomenal goalie play from both Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
A multitude of Bruins players are on pace to have career years. If you haven’t been tuning in, you need to start watching the ’22 – ’23 Boston Bruins, or you may miss out on some history.