The past week really was not anything super special for the Bruins. There was the unfortunate blowout at the hands of Toronto, but after an absolute pounding on the Devils, that game probably can just be written off. The Bruins have still continued to play well. Their best course of action now though would be to avoid an injury bug.
You Win Some, You Lose Some
Yeah, that game against the Maple Leafs was frustrating to watch. With a chance to hold second in the Atlantic, the Bruins kinda just let Toronto run them out of TD Garden. The Bruins and Leafs appear to be on a crash course with each other in the first round of the playoffs. And a loss like this to a potential opponent does not inspire optimism. But looking at the grand scheme of things, this game should not mean much.
Boston has been on an absolute tear in the past two or so months. And if you have been reading the Broons Weekly Updates, you’d know that I cannot shut up about it. One bad game is not going to destroy Boston. And that’s evident by the fact that the Bruins then won their next three games following the loss.
I remain optimistic about this Bruins team. So far in 2022, the Bruins have not let losses drag them down. And if this momentum continues into April and May, I believe Boston has a real shot at the cup. Of course, my opinion is extremely biased, so take that with a grain of salt.
Some Minutes of Concern
While I am optimistic about the Bruins, I still can complain about them. And this complaint is something I have already talked about this season. That is the fact that for some reason the defense gets Thanos snapped in the final minutes of periods. It’s an issue that I honestly never thought would even happen.
I really cannot think of any team that has had this type of chronic issue. It is frankly ridiculous. There are two things that could be the root of this issue, and it’s either that the defense just assumes the period is over, or it’s that hockey is a BS sport and the Bruins’ luck just is non-existent. Whatever it is, I just hope it stops before it becomes a pressing issue.
Bruins’ Injuries Need To Stop Please
If anything can crush championship hopes in any sport, it’s injuries. And this past week, the Bruins’ injuries have started to pile up slightly. The Bruins added Trent Fredric, David Pastrňák, and newcomer Hampus Lindholm to the injury report this week. Not exactly names that Bruins fans want to be seeing on there. While a small bug right now, this issue is about 1000 percent more concerning than the last-second goals.
In such a physical sport, sometimes it is impossible to avoid injuries. But teams still have the ability to prevent injuries from getting worse. In the case of the Bruins’ injuries, Boston really should start to consider when to rest its players. Obviously, the Bruins are in a dogfight for playoff position right now, but in my opinion with the current playoff teams, seating does not exactly matter. If the Bruins end up fourth in the Atlantic, they will play a team that’s arguably just as good as the one they’ll play if they were first.
Right now, the Bruins’ injuries are not damning by any means. But if they really start to pile up, I think the Bruins should consider resting some of their best players. After all, once the playoffs start, the regular season does not mean anything. If the Bruins don’t end second in the Atlantic, I won’t care as long as any of their key players are still gearing up.
Hi, I’m RJ Oakley and I’m the Bruins beat writer here at Belly Up Sports. Check back here and follow me on Twitter for news and discussion on the B’s. Be sure to follow Belly Up Hockey as well for all your NHL needs!
