The Boston Bruins’ top offensive producers have picked an inopportune time to go cold.
Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Loui Eriksson and David Krejci have combined to score just two goals during the Bruins’ season-long five-game losing streak — which they’ll attempt to snap Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs — including zero over the last four contests.
It’s the first time all season that Boston’s top four goal- and point-scorers all have failed to light the lamp in four consecutive games, and the impact of the quartet’s collective slump has been felt throughout the Bruins’ precariously top-heavy lineup. The B’s have scored one goal or fewer in three of their last four games after doing so in just four of their previous 30.
And three of those four players were struggling to put the puck in the net even before the Bruins began losing games at an alarming rate.
Bergeron has zero goals in his last eight games (though he probably should have one).
Marchand, who scored 17 goals in 19 games from mid-January to late February, has none in his last seven.
Krejci’s first-period tally in the loss to the San Jose Sharks that kicked off Boston’s skid is the only goal he’s scored since Feb. 20 — a span of 16 games. After beginning the season with seven goals in his first eight contests, the center has managed just eight in his 57 games since.
For the Bruins to return to their winning ways and avoid a second consecutive playoff no-show, this will need to change.
“I think that’s where veterans have to take over and lead the way there for our young guys to follow,” Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters Saturday morning, via BostonBruins.com. “We’re in this situation right now where I still feel we control our own destiny, so it’s up to us here to come out with a good solid performance (Saturday night) and come out of here with a win.”
Boston enters its tilt in Toronto with a one-point lead over the Detroit Red Wings for the Atlantic Division’s third and final guaranteed playoff spot. The B’s got some help Saturday afternoon from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who routed the Red Wings 7-2 in a game with serious postseason implications.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
