Anthony Travalgia: Bruins shining defensively while offense continues to struggle Through three games, the Bruins have yet to score five-on-five.

Bruins can't score goals? Weird, haven't heard this before.... its not like they've had the past 6 years to try and fix that or anything...............................

Tough not to be critical, but it is early. However a short season, they better turn things around quickly.

Taking Pastas production out of the lineup is even more troublesome than I thought. Outside of 37 & 63 this team cannot score goals. This should come as no shock, it’s been pretty much a 1 line team for years.

Don still hasn’t addressed it. His big move was adding Craig Smith to add more 5 on 5 punch.

The PP hasn’t looked very good at all either. Losing Krug is a major concern, and eliminating the teams major strength, a lethal PP.

Bruins can't score goals? Weird, haven't heard this before.... its not like they've had the past 6 years to try and fix that or anything...............................
- deezdoughnut

Over the last 6 seasons, where do you think the Bruins rank in terms of goal scoring?

Tough not to be critical, but it is early. However a short season, they better turn things around quickly.

Taking Pastas production out of the lineup is even more troublesome than I thought. Outside of 37 & 63 this team cannot score goals. This should come as no shock, it’s been pretty much a 1 line team for years.

Don still hasn’t addressed it. His big move was adding Craig Smith to add more 5 on 5 punch.

The PP hasn’t looked very good at all either. Losing Krug is a major concern, and eliminating the teams major strength, a lethal PP.
- Tachmo

Don't think the loss of Krug is the issue (although certainly a contributor) but missing Pasta is HUGE.

On the plus side, Debrusk actually looked pretty decent on the top line.

Over the last 6 seasons, where do you think the Bruins rank in terms of goal scoring?
- Mahewman

Without looking at any stats, I would guess easily top 10 and wouldn't be surprised top 5. The problem is the disproportionate amount of special teams goals in that total.

Without looking at any stats, I would guess easily top 10 and wouldn't be surprised top 5. The problem is the disproportionate amount of special teams goals in that total.
- bluemoon737

Not a great start, though 1-1-1.

The criticism on how they score their goals is what gets me.

If two teams average 3 goals a game, does it really matter if one team scores more on 5vs5 and the other does so on PP?

Of all the goals scored by Ovechkin and Pastrnak, 1/3 were on the PP. Does that diminish their goal-scoring?

Put it another way... would Bruins be better off 1-1-1 with 8 goals scored in 3 games, but with 10 against? Then the D and G would be in question.

I'd worry if we were continuing on this trend 10-15 games from now, or if Pastrnak were actually playing.

Without looking at any stats, I would guess easily top 10 and wouldn't be surprised top 5. The problem is the disproportionate amount of special teams goals in that total.
- bluemoon737

Since 2013/2014. 4th in goals for. Only behind Wash, Pitt and Tampa. 14th in 5v5.

Goals against is 1st.

Not a great start, though 1-1-1.

The criticism on how they score their goals is what gets me.

If two teams average 3 goals a game, does it really matter if one team scores more on 5vs5 and the other does so on PP?

Of all the goals scored by Ovechkin and Pastrnak, 1/3 were on the PP. Does that diminish their goal-scoring?

Put it another way... would Bruins be better off 1-1-1 with 8 goals scored in 3 games, but with 10 against? Then the D and G would be in question.

I'd worry if we were continuing on this trend 10-15 games from now, or if Pastrnak were actually playing.
- Nasty_Duck

I think the goals will come. Varlamov hasn't let up a goal yet this year lol. Defense looks good. That is more important to me right now. Getting the system set up and then the offense will come. He is also mixing the lines quite a bit right now to see what they have.


They do need Pasta back ASAP.

Not a great start, though 1-1-1.

The criticism on how they score their goals is what gets me.

If two teams average 3 goals a game, does it really matter if one team scores more on 5vs5 and the other does so on PP?

Of all the goals scored by Ovechkin and Pastrnak, 1/3 were on the PP. Does that diminish their goal-scoring?

Put it another way... would Bruins be better off 1-1-1 with 8 goals scored in 3 games, but with 10 against? Then the D and G would be in question.

I'd worry if we were continuing on this trend 10-15 games from now, or if Pastrnak were actually playing.
- Nasty_Duck

Yes, it does matter how the goals are scored. The vast majority of the game is played 5 on 5 and in the post season we all know the whistle tends to get put away with the "let 'em play" mentality.

I'm personally not hitting the panic button yet on goal scoring, way to early for that, but we also can't just ignore the fact that 5 on 5 scoring has been a problem for a while and that tends to bite you in the post season.

Since 2013/2014. 4th in goals for. Only behind Wash, Pitt and Tampa. 14th in 5v5.

Goals against is 1st.
- Mahewman

Exactly my point...look at the 2011 season, I believe we were #1 5 on 5 (or close to it) but somewhere close to 20th on the PP. Lack of 5 on 5 scoring kills you in the playoffs.

Yes, it does matter how the goals are scored. The vast majority of the game is played 5 on 5 and in the post season we all know the whistle tends to get put away with the "let 'em play" mentality.

I'm personally not hitting the panic button yet on goal scoring, way to early for that, but we also can't just ignore the fact that 5 on 5 scoring has been a problem for a while and that tends to bite you in the post season.
- bluemoon737

Definitely matters how the goals are scored to some degree. You have to be better 5on5 and not just wait for the PP to score a goal.

To be brutally honest, I don’t see this team going very far unless they find some offence outside the top line. Hate to seem negative but this is the same narrative for a few years. THEY GET LOTS OF GOALS in years past cause the top line gets 100 points a year each, Bergeron not quite that many.

This is still a good team, and will figure it out cause they are well coached, have an elite goalie, good system, good work ethic, and a production line! But no depth scoring...

lol some things are unexplainable... why do the Oilers continue to suck with McDavid and Draisatl!? Tippet has a history of making things work in Phx and not Edm?

Same thing, why can’t Bos produce secondary scoring? Maybe personnel? Kase should be better, Debrusk should be better, Krejci, Coyle....!
It may come down to just bringing in a bona fide winger once and for all.

Exactly my point...look at the 2011 season, I believe we were #1 5 on 5 (or close to it) but somewhere close to 20th on the PP. Lack of 5 on 5 scoring kills you in the playoffs.
- bluemoon737

2011 was a long time ago.

Where were Bruins 5 vs 5 during the 2018-2019 season?

2011 was a long time ago.

Where were Bruins 5 vs 5 during the 2018-2019 season?
- Nasty_Duck

19th...

19th...
- bluemoon737

19th place 5 vs 5 and they went to game 7 of SCF.

Doesn't seem all that important to me.

19th place 5 vs 5 and they went to game 7 of SCF.

Doesn't seem all that important to me.
- Nasty_Duck

Did they win? They rode a red hot goalie who, had they won the cup, was the unanimous choice for Conn Smythe. They also played teams that they outclassed thanks to Tampa and Washington stumbling in the first round. There are two reason why they didn't bring home the Cup that year, poor 5 on 5 scoring in general and too small of defense.

Did they win? They rode a red hot goalie who, had they won the cup, was the unanimous choice for Conn Smythe. They also played teams that they outclassed thanks to Tampa and Washington stumbling in the first round. There are two reason why they didn't bring home the Cup that year, poor 5 on 5 scoring in general and too small of defense.
- bluemoon737

Seriously? Game 7 of SCF... but it was all ... luck?

Every team that wins the CUP has some kind of luck.

Look at Bruins last year - FIRST OVERALL in league, then ... BAD luck with pandemic hitting and killing their momentum and then their starting goalie bails.

Seriously? Game 7 of SCF... but it was all ... luck?

Every team that wins the CUP has some kind of luck.

Look at Bruins last year - FIRST OVERALL in league, then ... BAD luck with pandemic hitting and killing their momentum and then their starting goalie bails.
- Nasty_Duck

Didn't say it was all luck, but the stars certainly aligned well for them in the first round...you have to admit that. Had the first round gone the way it "should" have then the second and third round would not have been so "easy".

Seriously? Game 7 of SCF... but it was all ... luck?

Every team that wins the CUP has some kind of luck.

Look at Bruins last year - FIRST OVERALL in league, then ... BAD luck with pandemic hitting and killing their momentum and then their starting goalie bails.
- Nasty_Duck

And what changed in the middle of the finals? Berube complained about penalties and suddenly less were called and we lost our advantage.

Keep Debrusk on the top line and put Pasta with Krejic. Give us 2 lines of scoring

Keep Debrusk on the top line and put Pasta with Krejic. Give us 2 lines of scoring
- blackbruin

Agreed. Harder to shut down 2 good lines.

Agreed. Harder to shut down 2 good lines.
- Nasty_Duck

So now you need to find a LW for Krejci...any ideas?

So now you need to find a LW for Krejci...any ideas?
- bluemoon737

No.

I'd leave DeBrusk with DK and DP.

Need to find a RW to play with Marchand & Bergeron.

No.

I'd leave DeBrusk with DK and DP.

Need to find a RW to play with Marchand & Bergeron.
- Nasty_Duck

Robbing Peter to pay Paul...we are where we have been for 6 years, trying to find a decent 2RW. Move Smith to 2RW and leave him there...let the three of them gel.