What is the Bruins Identity?
Things aren’t going well for the Bruins. After an overtime win the other night, you would think they would get on some type of roll with the Flyers coming to town off a loss to Montreal. That was not the case as the Bruins got 3 total shots on goal in the 3rd period of a 2-0 shutout loss. It was the second time this season the home team was shutout at TD Garden and dropped below .500 on the season. Jim Montgomery spoke after the game “It’s not good enough. We’re not doing enough to generate high-danger scoring chances. We’re all culpable for not coming out with a victory.”
This was a perfect spot for the Bruins, the Flyers have given up 40 goals in nine games this season. The Bruins started backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo who had sat for thirteen days and only gave up one goal. It was everything in front of him that went wrong. Boston had four power play opportunities, including a five-on-three for 1:37, but only mustered two shots on Sam Ersson. Montgomery tried to spark the offense by mixing up lines late in the second period and to start the third. None of it worked and I think we all are trying to find out what’s the teams identity? Last year it was their goaltending, this year they have given up 32 goals in 10 games. The Bruins gave up 16 goals in the first 10 games of last season with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman in net. Of course, Korpisalo had a tough first game and has given up 10 goals in just three games. Swayman is still getting back into game shape after his hold out and has given up 16 goals this season. Ullmark has given up 11 goals in 5 games in Ottowa.
The Bruins made some moves in the offseason that most thought were upgrades adding Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov on the backend. Lindholm played just 18 minutes last night while Zadorov left the game briefly after taking a puck to his hand. The team got heavier yet can’t compete with the more skilled teams and lack mental toughness against Florida. Tyler Johnson is still unsigned and at practice and they decided not to have Fabian Lysell start the year in Providence. They aren’t getting much from their captain Brad Marchand and if things don’t improve it could cost Montgomery his job.
The team goes on the road to Carolina and a rematch with the Flyers on Saturday.Hopefully the short road trip brings the team together, this slow start is uncharted territory for the Bruins.
