The Boston Bruins have been playing outstanding hockey in the first month of the NHL season. The team has skated to an impressive 11-2-2 record, and is near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The 2013 season is a shortened one due to the recent lockout, and the Bruins’ strong start is extremely important. Strong goaltending, tough defensive play and clutch goal scoring have all been keys to the Bruins’ success.
Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been outstanding for the Bruins, and is a main reason why they are Stanley Cup contenders. At only twenty-five years old, Tuukka has become an elite goaltender in only his first year of being a starter. Rask currently has an 8-1-2 record with a .919 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average. Backup goalie Anton Khhudobin has also been reliable and has been able to give Rask a rest when needed.
Rask’s success in net is due in large part to his outstanding defensemen in front of him. Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara is a strong force on the ice, and turns away many shots from opposing players. Dennis Sidenberg also brings a strong defensive presence to the Bruins, and he has been using his strength to shut down offensive players in the attacking zone. A balance of strong defense and a great goaltender have given the Bruins the best penalty killing unit in the NHL.
The youth and talent that the Bruins have on their offensive lines make them great now, and stable for the future. Brad Marchand, who is only twenty-four years old, leads the team with nine goals. Forward Tyler Seguin is only twenty-one years old, and provides the team with speed and elusiveness on the offensive side of the ice. The youth of the Bruins is exciting for New England sports fans because players such as Rask, Marchand and Seguin are not even in the prime of their careers yet, and are already established stars in the National Hockey League.
With the shortened season, the Bruins’ early success has put them in an excellent position to make the playoffs. However, the team must stay consistent and improve on specific aspects of their game. For example, the Bruins’ power play has been very disappointing, and is one of the worst in the league. At only thirteen percent, the Bruins rank twenty-eighth out of thirty teams on the power play. If the power play can improve and the Bruins can stay consistent in the other areas of their games, they will definitely make a run for their second Stanley Cup Championship in only three seasons.