Yet, with one loss — or even one bad period — doubt creeps through the city of Boston.
Just last week, after the B's picked up just two out of a possible eight points during a four-game losing streak, B's fans were in a near panic. From coaching to leadership, power plays to dumb penalties, Bruins fans wanted answers.
Tuesday's shootout win may help to calm some fears, but one more loss, and all that doubt will come rushing back.
That said, what is the Bruins' biggest area of concern as they head down the home stretch of the season?
The power play has rather famously struggled since it's added Tomas Kaberle to the mix, and the unit is finding it nearly impossible to bury pucks.
The injury bug is somewhat gone for now, with Steven Kampfer returning on Tuesday and Andrew Ference not far behind. Injuries, however, can strike at any time. Are the Bruins equipped to deal with another one?
Then, as was the case for almost all of last season, there is the issue of scoring. The Bruins showed temporary scoring outburts with six goals against the Islanders on Feb. 17, eight against the Canadiens on Feb. 9 and six against the Stars on Feb. 3, but those games aside, they've averaged just 2.2 goals per game — a frightening statistic heading into the playoffs.
On the other side of things, defense remains a strength, but the team has shown some serious lapses lately. Columbus failed to take advantage of several golden opportunities, and losses like the one in Montreal last week highlight how vulnerable the defense can look on a given night.
The final concern is related to injuries, and it's depth. With Brad Marchand set to sit for the B's next two games, Daniel Paille, Michael Ryder and Tyler Seguin won't have to worry about being the healthy scratch. Claude Julien, however, will have a tough time filling a spot up front if any of his forwards goes down with an injury, however minor or serious it may be. Likewise, the blue line is stretched thin, and Matt Bartkowski didn't appear to be ready for the big time in his call-up this month.
What is the biggest area of concern for the Bruins' heading down the stretch? Share your thoughts below.
Tuesday, March 15: Which city would you like the NHL to relocate a franchise to?
What is the Bruins' biggest area of concern heading down the stretch?Market Research
