On paper, the Bruins should have had a rough start to the season. Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy are out and not everyone still on the ice is 100% healthy. However, the Bruins seemed to have made it work. Now sitting at 6-1-0, the Bruins own the best record so far in this young season.
Is This A Surprise?
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To me? Not really. Yes, Charlie McAvoy and Brad Marchand are out, but the Bruins are more than a one-line/d-pair team this year. This Bruins roster is loaded with talent even with two of their best guys out. All that the Bruins needed out of their start was for their other top guys to get hot. And they absolutely have.
Taylor Hall has been playing like his old self while filling in for Marchand on Patrice Bergeron‘s wing. David Krejci is proving to everyone that one year in Czechia hasn’t slowed him down. Krejci’s fellow Czech, David Pastrnak, seemingly magically makes the puck go in the net every time he’s on the ice right now. The Bruins are a force to be reckoned with even when not healthy.
Well, This Part Is A Surprise
The only factor that I really did not account for so far this season has been the play of Linus Ullmark. Now in his second year in Boston, Ullmark has started it off with a bang. Most people predicted that Ullmark would evenly split time with Jeremy Swayman this year. However, looks like Jim Montgomery is going to play the hot hand while he has it.
The best part about Ullmark’s play though is that when he does cool off, in goes Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins might not have Tuukka Rask anymore, but this solid goalie tandem is exactly what the team needs.
Can The Bruins Keep It Rolling?
So now take the goalies, the forwards who can’t stop scoring, and a defense that’s getting healthier by the day and you get a very scary team. Just in time for Halloween, I guess! With how strong the East is this year, this hot start could help solidify a top spot for Boston early.
Really the only shaky part of the Bruins this season has been their defense. But as I already mentioned, they are getting healthier. Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk both have recently returned from injury to help bolster the defensive core. Even then, the defense hasn’t looked bad by any means. This Bruins team finally looks like it has depth.
Hi, I’m RJ Oakley, the Bruins beat writer here at Belly Up Sports. Check back here and follow me on Twitter for news and discussion on the Bs. Be sure to follow Belly Up Hockey for all your NHL needs!
