Bruins with Shut Out but Are They Ready for Post Season?

(Photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The New York Rangers entered TD Garden on Thursday, May 6, 2021 to play in the second to last game of their season. They already knew they were out of the running for a playoff spot, and they had expended a great deal of emotional energy against the Washington Capitals the night before with six fights, the result of their disagreement with Capitals Tom Wilson only getting fined for his roughing on Pavel Buchnevich.

It was easy to see that the Boston Bruins were the more invested of the teams in Thursday night’s tilt. In fact, for a long stretch of time the Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman saw no action—which could have resulted in a loss of focus when the Rangers did actually get into the offensive zone and put a shot of him. Thursday night’s game was more a statement about the mindset of New York thank it truly was about the Bruins.

By the end of the first period the Bruins were leading 2-0 in score and 9-4 in shots. The second period though showed how truly unengaged the Blueshirts were when Boston outshot them 19-3 in the middle frame and put another goal in net. By the end of the game the score was 4-0—Brandon Carlo notched the fourth goal in the third period—and the shots on goal were 34-15, though the Rangers did outshoot Boston in the final period.

Perhaps because there was little going on regarding the the contest for the two points, it was even easier to see some of the issues the Bruins need to shore up before they do start the post season. Something appears to be going on with David Pastrnak. His go-to one-timer has not been there, and while that is disconcerting, it makes his giveaways and struggles to maintain possession of the puck more obvious. Nothing has been said by the team, and perhaps Pastrnak is simply going through a slump. After all, most players have those periods throughout their career. However, the Bruins rely on Pastrnak and his performance will be all the more important in the post season.

What Boston does have in its favor is a two-way game. The fowards recognize the importance of a defensive game and show it with backchecks and forechecks as well as slotting in when a defenseman pinches. Meanwhile, twelve of the shots on Rangers Igor Shesterkin came from the Bruins defensive corps. When Kevan Miller plays for the black and gold, he shows that his speed and physicality are there as well as a willingness to put pucks on net. He had three shots on New York’s goaltender. His physical play also discourages the opposing team of taking liberties with the Bruins skill players.

Right now, the Bruins have tight first and second lines that are producing. The addition of Taylor Hall at the trade deadline was a solid move by the Bruins front office. His positioning on the second line as the left winger for David Krejci has given that line the chemistry it needed. The return of Carlo on the blue line is a step in the right direction as well and helps to augment the back end with Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk.

The bottom six are still inconsistent, but post season usually brings out another level in most of the players. Charlie Coyle is one player who was a scratch on Thursday but who Boston is hoping will find that higher gear and once again begin producing. He definitely suffered this season in the goal-scoring department.

The Bruins have three more games in the regular season. Saturday, May 8, they take on the New York Rangers again. Then the following Tuesday will be their last home game playing against the New York Islanders. The last game of Boston’s regular season will be a road game down in Washington, D.C., against the Washington Capitals, who the Bruins are likely to see in round one of the post season.