Bruins Enter All-Star Break With Same Problems They've Had All Season
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins began the season with the same glaring weaknesses that they carry into the All-Star break. Their problems cropped up again Tuesday night in an ugly 6-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at home, but the B's still hit the break in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and just six points behind the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic division.
It's great to see the Bruins very much in the playoff hunt at the All-Star break, considering their uninspired 8-8-1 start. But they still sit just five points ahead of the 12th-place Ottawa Senators. If the Bruins hope to make a deep playoff run, they need to not only keep picking up points on their division and conference rivals but add pieces to the roster at the trade deadline.
This Bruins season has been like the Bizarro World most of the time; their usual problems are now their strengths while their biggest weakness comes from an area where they have historically dominated under Claude Julien.
The coach was asked to adjust the Bruins' offensive and power play styles, and it's resulted in the No. 2 power play in the league (25.9 percent) behind only the high-powered Washington Capitals (27.1 percent). However, on the back end, things have not gone nearly as well for the Bruins defense as years past. The multilayered issues in that area need to be addressed via trade. There is also the looming issue of impending free agent Loui Eriksson, who could become a trade chip if he and the team cannot agree to an extension.
These obvious issues showed up for the Bruins against the Ducks and have affected them for most of the season, and need to be addressed.
Talent and depth on defense and penalty kill
Inconsistent and disorganized play in the defensive zone has plagued the Bruins since the start of the season. With below-average players getting significant minutes, the problems in their own end are not surprising. Zach Trotman turned the puck over behind the net, which led to Anaheim's first goal, and Kevan Miller looked lost in front of the net on goals by both Shea Theodore and David Perron.
The Bruins could definitely use some depth on the blue line. But the biggest, most obvious need is a big, tough, talented No. 1 defenseman of the future. Trading Loui Eriksson with a first round pick and a prospect may be worth the price to get that guy. Ideally, they go out and get that player, and there are plenty of great young, up-and-coming defensive stalwarts they could feasibly target.
The penalty kill is where the loss of Chris Kelly hurts the team. With Patrice Bergeron in the penalty box Tuesday night, they committed costly miscues and left Shea Theodore wide open for a power-play goal. A reliable defensive forward to back up Bergeron on the PK could be useful in the second half of the season.
Lack of strength and toughness
As explosive as the Bruins offense and power play has become, at times they have a curious lack of strength and toughness when it comes to puck possession. The Ducks consistently outmuscled and outworked the Bruins for the puck, and it played a direct role in Ryan Kesler's empty net goal, which he buried off a feed from Ryan Getzlaf, who pushed Bergeron off the puck with relative ease.
When the Bruins have lost, they have consistently lost loose puck battles in all three zones. It was the team's biggest problem in the Winter Classic. The lack of toughness has also affected their physicality to some extent. When 5'9" Torey Krug is the guy taking on 6'2" Chris Stewart, you may have some issues with grit.
The Bruins are not a weak or soft team; they just tend to flash that identity at times, and a big, physical team like Anaheim can run them over if they're not playing at the highest possible level of intensity. The Bruins need to show more fire down the stretch if they want to give Boston any confidence that they can make a run at the Stanley Cup.
Though the team's toughness is more of an issue than in years past, that can change with a simple attitude adjustment. That is under their control. The talent and depth issues on defense can only be fixed by bringing in pieces from elsewhere, and that should be the No. 1 concern for the team come February.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
