Tag Archives: jeremy lauzon

mid season

State Of The Bruins At Mid Season

Leave a reply

So far this season has been up and down for the Bruins. They have battled a tremendous amount of adversity and most recently lost Tuukka Rask to a concussion. Despite the injuries, they would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. With the first half of the season over, the Bruins are in a good position as they make their playoff push. They still have to improve offensively, but there were many positives to take from the first half.

Due to numerous injuries, the Bruins depth has been tested. As a result, their young players have been forced to replace key pieces such as Charlie McAvoy. One player in particular who has stepped up is Matt Grzyelcyk. The BU product has excelled in multiple roles for the Bruins, and already tied a career-high with 12 assists. In a blueline that has dealt with numerous injuries, he has only missed three games. Grzelcyk, however, is not the only defenseman that has shined.

Mid season
Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/ Getty Images

Youth And Veterans Stepping Up

Just like last season, the Bruins have relied on their youth. So far this season both Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon have made their NHL debuts. They both played significant minutes during their brief call-ups and surpassed all expectations. The young defenseman showed that they could handle a top-six role in the NHL. With the trade deadline looming they could be interesting trade chips or key pieces to the Bruins future.

While the Bruins young players have excelled, so have the veterans. David Krejci has appeared to have found the fountain of youth. In 49 games he already has 40 points, after recording just 44 last season. He is on pace to surpass forty assists for the first time since 2015-2016. He has carried this team at times when scoring has been scarce. Despite Krejci’s efforts, and the Bruins top lines’ dominance, the Bruins offensive struggles must be addressed in the second half.

This season the Bruins scoring issues can be linked to multiple sophomore slumps. After recording 47 points last season Danton Heinen, has only 13 in the first half. Anders Bjork was supposed to be a key contributor and now is out for the rest of the season. As a result, the Bruins have had to rely on players such as Colby Cave who failed to spark the offense. They do however have many options in the trade market.

Due to their offensive struggles, the Bruins have been popular in the rumor mill. Some players they have been linked to are Wayne Simmonds, Charlie Coyle, and Brayden Schenn. If the Bruins are to make a deep playoff run, improving the offense will be key. They already have a deep defensive core and a rising superstar in David Pastrnak. Their goalie tandem has also been better than many expected.

With one half in the books, the Bruins have reasons to be hopeful in the second half. If they can improve the offense, then this team could be dangerous in the playoffs. They have the depth to make a move, and their scouts have been busy. They will look to start the second half in dominant style next Tuesday against Winnipeg.

Cassidy

Cassidy Deserving Of Jack Adams Consideration

Leave a reply

Last season Bruce Cassidy was nearly named the best coach in the NHL.  He took over a Bruins team that was dead in the water in early February of 2017, and lead them to a playoff appearance.  He followed that up with a 100 point season and a second-round playoff appearance in his first full season at the helm.  This season, Cassidy’s skills have been tested as this team has yet to form an identity.  The Bruins have struggled to receive secondary scoring, but are still in a wildcard spot.  Cassidy has done well keeping this team competitive in the face of tremendous adversity.

They have already lost Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Charlie McAvoy for long stretches this season. Despite all the injuries, the Bruins are still on their way to a third consecutive playoff appearance.  It has been a season full of ups and downs, but this team has still found ways to win.  Under Cassidy, the Bruins young players have stepped up when needed most.

Cassidy

Photo Credit: John Tlumacki/ Globe Staff

Cassidy’s Impact On The Youth

This season the Bruins have already seen the NHL debuts of Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson.  They have all given the Bruins solid minutes over the last month, as injuries pile up. Cassidy has kept things simple and not placed high expectations on his rookies.  He has put them in positions to succeed and rewarded their hard work.  His coaching style has positively affected the Bruins younger players, and their goaltenders as well.

With the addition of Jaroslav Halak, the Bruins have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL.  Halak has thrived in his first season in Boston, after struggling last season with the Islanders.  He had the worst defensive group in front of him in New York, which has not been the case in Boston.  Cassidy’s system suits Halak, as it keeps everything in front of the goaltender.  What was seen as a low-risk signing has turned into one of this team’s best free-agent pickups.

Cassidy

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Under Cassidy, Tuukka Rask has played his best hockey in recent years.  Last season the Bruins goaltender finished with a .917 save percentage, which was skewed due to a rough first month of the season.  That has been the same case this season, as Rask has recovered from a slow start to be considerably better over the last month.  Cassidy’s system puts his goaltenders in the best positions to succeed, and as a result they have thrived.

Can Cassidy Repeat Last Seasons Success

In what has been a season full of highs and lows, the Bruins have been dominant of late.  In their last two games, they have outscored their opponents 7-1.  That is particularly impressive, considering both Montreal and Anaheim would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.  With Bergeron set to return within the next week, the team will only get better.  Despite all the challenges the team has faced, they are well on their way to another playoff appearance.  There is still a lot of hockey to be played, but Cassidy has again shown why he is one of the best in the league, as he has kept an injury-riddled roster in the playoff mix.

Boston Bruins defeat the Flyers 3-0

Leave a reply

The Boston Bruins continue with their win streak in a shutout 3-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Garden last night. Despite a slow first period played by both teams, the Bruins came on top despite a chippy game.  Captain Zdeno Chara netted two goals and after a frustrating start to the season, winger Jake DeBrusk netted a goal from a Krejci pass. The night, however, belonged to goaltender Jaroslav Halak who made all 26 saves for his second shutout of the season. Halak, so far, has proven to be a solid back-up to Tuukka Rask. The 33-year-old Slovak native is 4th in the league for best GAA (goals against average) and tied for first for shutout wins.

BREAKDOWN

Real clean first period, not with the puck, but in terms of not allowing chances. In the second, he (Halak) had some big saves for us when we needed them, timely, and here we are with the win”-Coach Cassidy

Boston Bruins vs Philadelphia Flyers

(Photo Credit: MICHAEL DWYER / AP)

After a quiet first period, things started to pick in the second for the Bruins. Halak got a workout between the pipes making 11 stops, robbing the Flyers’ Claude Giroux of two potential goals, frustrating the captain.  After the second save by Halak from Giroux, Zdeno Chara blasted one in net from a one-time fed by Danton Heinen, getting the Bruins on board 1-0. DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead after netting a power-play goal at 17:28 (Krejci with the assist).  The Flyers were 0-3 with the man advantage. With the assist from Halak, Chara scored an empty-net goal with 23 seconds left in the third. The Flyers had some missed chances when Jordan Weal tried to net a goal on a 2-on -1, while Giroux tried multiple times to score. Goaltender Brian Elliot made 22 saves in net for Philadelphia.

The third period saw some confusion as both teams drew multiple penalties that had both teams with players in the box. Bruins’ Steve Kampfer and Flyers’ Scott Laughton got into a brawl in the third period.

Bruins Vs Flyers

(Photo Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki)

QUICK STATS

The Bruins are 4-0 at home and are the only NHL team to have that record. Chara is now the third defenseman in NHL history to score multiple goals in a game at age 41 or older. With defenseman Urho Vaakanainen out with a concussion, Providence player Jeremy Lauzon made his NHL debut last night for the Bruins. With a slew of injured d-men, Boston recalled the 21-year-old for last’s night game. He played pretty comfortably with 11:25 TOI (Time on Ice).

The Bruins play the Montreal  Canadiens this Saturday with puck drop at 7:00 pm @ The Boston Garden.