The Boston Bruins are getting production from their second-tier scorers in the wake of David Krejci’s move to injured reserve. They’re just not getting enough of it.
Despite increased contributions from Jimmy Hayes (five goals in six games), Matt Beleskey (two goals, one assist) and Ryan Spooner (one goal, six assists), lighting the lamp has been an issue for Boston since Krejci went down two weeks ago.
In their last seven contests — including the one Krejci was forced to leave early after suffering an upper body injury — the Bruins have been held to a single goal four times and two goals once. All five of those games ended in losses.
Boston did score seven goals in a Dec. 29 steamrolling of the Ottawa Senators, giving hope that life without one of its best offensive players might not be so terrible. But rather than build on that overwhelmingly positive showing, Claude Julien’s squad has regressed offensively, with its lone three-plus-goal night coming against an injury-ravaged New Jersey Devils team that was forced to dress several AHLers.
Scoring once again proved problematic Monday. The Bruins tallied 11 shots on goal in each period against the New York Rangers but were able to sneak just one past Henrik Lundqvist, who turned in his best performance of the New Year in a 2-1 Rangers win.
Tuukka Rask (28 saves) was similarly impressive in the opposite net, but Jesper Fast tipped a shot past him with 1:42 remaining to hand Boston its fourth loss in five games.
“We knew they were going to come hard,” Rask told reporters after the game, as aired on “Bruins Overtime LIVE.” “I didn’t feel like we were on our heels that much. They just got the goal right off the bat, so that maybe gave them a little momentum there. But I thought we battled back well. One bounce here and there decides the game.
“I thought we could have deserved at least a point, but that’s not how hockey goes all the time. It’s a loss. It is what it is.”
Rask and backup Jonas Gustavsson have teamed up to allow just five total goals over the Bruins’ last three games. For comparison’s sake, Boston surrendered three or more goals in each of the previous five contests, including five in a disastrous loss in the NHL Winter Classic.
With that type of quality goaltending, the Bruins should have more than one win since the calendar flipped to 2016. There is hope for a quick turnaround, though.
As mentioned, early-season slumpers Hayes, Beleskey and Spooner all have turned it on of late, while Brad Marchand has been active following his return from suspension and David Pastrnak already has one goal since wrapping up his own prolonged IR stint.
And while scoring has been scarce, scoring chances have been plentiful: In losses to the Senators and Rangers, the Bruins averaged 33.5 shots on goal and hit close to a half-dozen posts.
It remains to be seen exactly how long the Bruins will be without Krejci, but they’ll need to find a scoring solution in the meantime or else risk watching their season slip away. A loss Wednesday in Philadelphia could drop the B’s to as low as sixth in the jam-packed Atlantic Division.
Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
