Bruins
The Bruins – like every motivated team starting the brand new 12 months – did almost every thing right in Tuesday afternoon's 5-on-5 game against the Capitals.
Equipped with a fortuitous bounce that allowed Justin Brazeau to place a puck in the online just 1:21 into the sport, the Bruins routinely funneled pucks across the Class A ice in hopes of getting Washington goaltender Logan Thompson under to place pressure.
The result? Thirteen high-danger scoring opportunities for the Bruins over 49:40 5-on-5 replays. Boston has only had five games in its first 39 games this season where it posted higher quality performances.
But identical to the various bad habits that result in a flood of corrupt resolutions, those positive changes within the O-zone meant little for Boston on Tuesday — given the still-glaring flaws within the Bruins' offensive approach.
Despite Boston's best efforts to contain Thompson and the Caps, it couldn't stop the Bruins from a disappointing 3-1 loss.
The lack of ending on those scoring opportunities is a giant problem, but Boston's season-long man advantage weakness stays the true sticking point for a team that now ranks twenty seventh within the league in goals scored per game ( 2.62).
Boston's inability to take advantage of its man advantage is a big a part of why it was a cellar-dweller seeking twine. The Bruins currently have a 13 percent power play success rate, rating them thirtieth overall within the NHL.
The days when the Bruins routinely ran a top-five power play — with players like Patrice Bergeron directing traffic on the bumper and Torey Krug uncorking howitzers from the blue line — are a thing of the past.
Still, between Brad Marchand at center and David Pastrnak on the left circle, the Bruins must have the personnel they should push Boston well above thirtieth in the primary three months of the brand new season.
For all of the talk concerning the blatant regression that seemingly plagued Boston last 12 months, with a 14th-ranked power play last season (22.2 percent), this current version of outdoor playmakers would welcome that seemingly fleeting production.
It's a drop in standards that has puzzled Charlie McAvoy at several points this 12 months.
“It was certainly a difficult year. … Now we're changing it, we're trying to find groups of five that could work better together. … Hopefully with this small sample size we can just wash our hands and get along better,” McAvoy said. We attempt to compete with one another.
“We have to be good for the team. So I don't care who's out there, it doesn't matter what five are out there, we have to help. We have to take shots. We have to get chances. We have to be able to take some momentum with us after the end of the power play – score or not score.”
As McAvoy noted, the Bruins have made drastic changes recently in hopes of sparking competition between each units.
Interim coach Joe Sacco has used Pastrnak and Marchand in separate units in recent games, with Mason Lohrei — not McAvoy — given the keys to the blue line in a top grouping with Pastrnak.
But Tuesday's results left much to be desired for power play staffers hoping for some semblance of a spark.
Boston was unable to reap the benefits of its two power play opportunities and only had one scoring opportunity in those 4 minutes.
The Bruins' second attempt on the facility play was particularly disastrous in the ultimate minutes of the second period. After Jakob Chychrun was whistled for a foul on Marchand with 15:11 left within the half, Boston's next shot on goal got here… with 0:33 left within the third period.
It was a frustrating result as Boston tried to claw back the Caps' 2-1 lead – a well-recognized scenario for a Bruins team once buoyed by an influence play able to erasing deficits briefly order.
“You don’t score points. Then this frustration happens. Then it just keeps going,” McAvoy admitted. “And honestly, it's been a source of frustration for a lot of people all year long.
“So it was like a rollercoaster and it doesn't affect the five-on-five game. But here we are now and we have to be professionals. So we have to make sure we maintain a high standard.”
While Boston's overall team defense and talent to create dangerous looks have improved based on Sacco's simplified approachBoston's power play has remained neutral for the reason that team's coaching change.
At the time of Montgomery's firing, the Bruins were last within the NHL with an influence play that yielded just 11.7 percent of their probabilities.
Since Sacco took over, the Bruins have improved… with a person advantage of 15 percent during the last 20 games. Better, but not nearly adequate.
“We have to execute our offense better,” Sacco said. “I think that's where it starts, and when we're in the zone we have to immediately move closer to the net. “I feel that's a part of it. Obviously we’d like to enhance that area of the sport for our team.”
For all their offensive deficiencies, the Bruins are still in third place within the Atlantic Division with a record of 20-15-4 as of Tuesday afternoon.
But in a season through which the Bruins frequently shrink back from making life easier for themselves, a revamped power play can be a welcome sight because the unofficial start of the second half of the NHL calendar begins.
In McAvoy's eyes, the talent is there. As has the emphasis on easy, intelligent plays, which has led to 5v5 plays being considered more often.
But regain trust in these units? Like any New Year's resolution, this endeavor is less complicated said than done.
“All we need is one game, two games, where we get attention,” McAvoy said. “Now you just play. Confidence is a funny thing. A little bit of that goes a long way.”
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