Who’s to Blame for Bruins Struggles?

(Photo: Alan Sullivan)

The Boston Bruins looked like they had found that higher gear that they have shown in years past as they began play after the COVID pause. However, their last four games have not been up to that level, and it is difficult to tell if it is due to a lack of certain players, a need for a bonding road trip, or something else altogether.

If they do need a bonding trip, then good news, they are about to embark on a short three-game roadie that kicks off with their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday (Feb. 26th) before taking on the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (Feb. 28th) and finishing up against the Dallas Stars on Sunday (Feb. 30th).

While there have been some players out for different reason including injuries and COVID-19 protocol, the biggest change in the last few games has been the return of Tuukka Rask. He was originally supposed to get a couple of AHL games under his belt against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but those games ended up being postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Phantoms. So, instead, Rask saw his first action on January 13 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Since then, he has started in three additional games—having been pulled after the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has a 2-2-0 record.

Looking back at the Bruins games since January 1, the results are as follows:

• January 1 vs Buffalo Sabres, OT Win 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 2 at Detroit Red Wngs, Win, 5-1, Goalie: Jeremy Swayman
• January 4 vs New Jersey Devils, Win, 5-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 6 vs Minnesota Wild, Loss, 3-2, Goalie: Jeremy Swayman
• January 8 at Tampa Bay Lightning, Win, 5-2, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 10 at Washington Capitals, Win 7-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 12 vs Montreal Canadiens, Win, 5-1, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 13 vs Philadelphia Flyers, Win, 3-2, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
• January 15 vs Nashville Predators, OT Win, 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 18 vs Carolina Hurricanes, Loss, 7-1, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
• January 20 vs Washington Capitals, Win, 4-3, Goalie: Linus Ullmark
• January 22 vs Winnipeg Jets, Win, 3-2, Goalie: Tuukka Rask
• January 24 vs Anaheim Ducks, Loss, 5-3, Goalie: Tuukka Rask

In looking at these games, Ullmark has played the most with seven games, plus 40 minutes of the Carolina Hurricanes game. He has compiled a .901 save percentage having seen 202 shots and stopping 182 of them.

Swayman has played the fewest in January, as he was sent down to the Providence Bruins to make room for Rask. In his two games he was 1-1-0. He saw 54 shots and stopped 50 of them for a save percentage of .926.

Rask has now played in four games. He came out strong against the Philadelphia Flyers allowing just two goals on 27 shots. However, when the Carolina Hurricanes hit town, he struggled—as did the whole team to be honest—but of the 12 shots he faced, he only stopped 7 and that was in a 20-minute period. He bounced back against Winnipeg, once again allowing only two goals in a game that saw 24 shots. Unfortunately, against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night he let in five goals on 27 shots. His save percentage through four games is .844 having allowed 14 goals on 90 shots.

Yes, he hasn’t had much preparation time since returning. However, the Bruins can’t be squandering points this far into the season if they hope to make it to the playoffs. And all the problems cannot be dropped at Rask’s skates.

In the Anaheim game, Charlie McAvoy was a -3 on the night—the most of any of the players. Yes he is an offensive defenseman, but he needs to perhaps step up his defense especially if his netminder is struggling.

In the statistics that are tracked the giveaways (aka turnovers) seldom seem to match up with what was seen in the game, and perhaps it is limited to unforced giveaways. Monday’s game against the Ducks, Brad Marchand led the team with three while Craig Smith had two.

Meanwhile in the shellacking by the Hurricanes when it came to plus/minus, most of the defensemen found themselves with a -2, the exceptions being Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk who were each -1. Forwards Charlie Coyle and Urho Vaakanainen each finished the game -3.

While the goaltenders need to stand up and make the important saves, the players in front of the backstop need to play smarter, especially when it comes to passing the puck. There were numerous times when the Bruins put the puck directly onto the stick of an opposing player in Monday’s game, and these weren’t cross ice passes.

Perhaps the most important thing to take away though from these games is that in the 13 games they have played so far in January, they have actually won 10. Regrettably, a couple of the recent losses have been so horrendous that it looks worse than it is. Yes, there have been struggles, but the team is still solidly in a wildcard position with eight points separating them and the next closest team, the Detroit Red Wings, on whom Boston has three games in hand.

Rask is here to stay for the year and he will improve. His career statistics back this up. In the 564 games he has played he has seen 15,575 shots allowing just 1,230 for a .921 save percentage. While he is getting back in the groove though, his teammates need to step up and protect the house a little better. They need to assume that the opposition is gunning for them from the first puck drop and stand up to it.