After starting the season 7-2, the Bruins came into an October 26th game against the Devils looking to retain their spot at the top of the Atlantic Division. Prior to that game they had won 4 straight and as they retained a 3-2 lead late in the 3rd they found themselves just minutes away from their longest win streak since late last February. They were just over 3 minutes away from the win when it all fell apart.
Tory Krug committed a high stick that sent him to the penalty box for a 4 minute double minor and then, just seconds later, down went Patrice Bergeron who skied the puck over the glass and put the Devils on a 5 on 3 power play for the rest of the game. New Jersey soon pulled their goalie scored once and then scored again to not only tie the game but win it in regulation.
The Bruins have now played 3 games since that crushing loss and through that span of time; things have rapidly spiraled out of control. They have lost 2 of 3 and have been beating 8-6 on aggregate scouring. Even after the New Jersey game, the Big Bad Bruins still retained the top spot in the Atlantic division but after this recent dry spell they have fallen 4 points back of the division leading Lightning.
As you look into it, the various factors that have befallen the Bruins in their recent losses have been here all year. First and foremost, the Bruins need more out of their 2nd through 4th lines as 36% of the 94 points scored by Bruins players this season have come out of the Krejci, Lucic, Iginla line. By comparison that is 18 points higher than the 18% of team points smacked in by the Bergeron, Smith, Marchand line and 28 percentage points higher than the 10% held by the 3rd line.
As you look back it was noted early on how much the dependency on the top line was dangerous and it seems that through these last 3 games we have been shown that danger not just told about it. Krejci, Iginla and Lucic have combined for just 1 goal leaving a gaping hole in the Bruins attack. With the exception of Carl Soderberg no one has stepped up and for that reason, down the Bruins go.
But as you examine the box score it is the situation in goal that, however strange, has shot the Bruins in the feet. Now there is no doubt about current starter Tuukka Rask. Rask is 7 and 4 with a GAA of 1.73. He has accumulated a save percentage of .940 and above all allowed more than 3 goals just 3 times all year. Tuukka has been playing like a Vesna candidate and there has never been a question regarding in the excellence of his play. No the guy who has killed the Bruins is the man who has come in when Tuukka simply needs a day off.
In the minds of Bruins fans, Chad Johnson was never the answer to the question of who to fill the role of backup goalie and he has shown it in the 2 games he has appeared in this year. He has allowed 5 goals in 2 games of action and after posting a saver percentage of just .900 in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Islanders it may be time to test out Niklas Svedberg once again.
The Bruins have played 3 fewer games than any other team in hockey this season but that is no excuse. They are just 4 points secure of a playoff spot and need to get going. Good news Bruins fans, we might be in for a surge in the coming weeks as 6 of their next 8 opponents are currently out of the playoff picture.
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