Several question marks surrounded the Bruins defense as they entered the 2020-21 season.
Could Jeremy Lauzon handle first pairing minutes? Will Jakub Zboril take that next step in his development and play crucial minutes? Was Kevan Miller going to be anything close to what he was before?
So far, through three contests, the answer to all the above questions are yes.
But now, with the lack of offense, especially five-on-five, there’s more questions surrounding the Pastrnak-less offense then there are surrounding a young somewhat unproven defensive core.
Through three games the Bruins have allowed just five goals, albeit they’ve come against the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders who despite have plenty of talent up front, don’t exactly light the world on fire offensively.
Once again Monday the Bruins defense managed things in their own end very well, minimizing chances and keeping the danger in front of goalie Tuukka Rask minimal.
The Bruins have had some unlucky bounces go the wrong way thus far and that was no different Monday on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s third period tally, the loan goal of the contest.
After a shot blocked by Patrice Bergeron went airborne, Pageau showed his hand-eye coordination, batting the loose puck out of the air and into the Bruins goal.
“Well we’ve had a few of those already this year, obviously a game decided in Jersey, they got a tip on the top of the crease—got one that ricocheted in off both of our defensemen Lauzon and McAvoy,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.
“Tonight, Bergy’s hops up. Big picture you know you’re doing a good job defending when those are the goals that are going in. On the flip side, no consolation to losing a game like that when you feel you were the better team.”
The Bruins defensive core will go through some bumps and bruises as the year goes along, and things will look ugly at times. But for goalie Tuukka Rask who has started two of the Bruins first three games, he’s happy with what he’s seen in front of him.
“I’ve played two games and I don’t think we’ve given up too many scoring chances, obviously there’s going to be a breakdown here and there, but I think those have been maybe in the neutral zone or the offensive zone,” he said.
One the bright spots on the Bruins blue line has been the play of Zboril. He seems more calm and confident with the puck. Known as more of an offensive defenseman, he’s been reliable in his own end, doing a good job of closing gaps and clogging shooting and passing lanes with an effective stick.
“Zboril, a litt more offensive-minded, I thought carried some pucks through the neutral zone,” said Cassidy. “Good first pass where some forwards were getting in good spots, now it has to translate to some offense for him. I liked his game.”
While the Bruins continue to shine defensively, the offense continues to spin its tires in the mud. Through nine periods of regulation, the Bruins have not scored a five-on-five goal. The Dallas Stars are the only other team in the league without a five-on-five goal.
However, they’ve yet to play a single game due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
“It’s a long year, obviously we’re focused on it, it’s what everyone wants to talk about is production five-on-five,” said Jake DeBrusk who had one five-on-five shot in the shutout loss. “It’s one of those things we’re very aware of, but at the same time we have confidence in our group and I think we’re stacked up front.”
The offense is going to come, the Bruins have too much talent to not put pucks in the net. And it’s only a matter of time before David Pastrnak returns, providing the Bruins with a huge offensive boost.
“I think the first game of the season was similar to this, we created offense, we had chances and just couldn’t get the puck in the net. We ended up winning that game so obviously you have a better feeling after that,” said Rask.
“But I think it’s early in the season and we’re playing really good, if we play this team defense throughout the year, I think we’re going to win a lot of games. I know the offense will come.”
The Bruins return home Thursday for the first of two against the Philadelphia Flyers, a Flyers team who opened the season with 11 goals in their first two games.
Wouldn’t be a bad idea to break the offensive dam and find some five-on-five scoring.
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