The Bruins’ power-play struggles are no secret, and a major reason for the unit’s lack of success has been the inconsistency of defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who was acquired prior to the NHL trade deadline.
But Kaberle still possesses great puck-moving ability, and if he hits stride in the Cup Final, particularly offensively, he could prove to be a difference maker despite no longer being part of the Bruins’ top defensive pairing.
Mark Recchi, a 43-year-old potential Hall of Famer, had a quiet series against the Lightning. He didn’t register a point in the seven games, and finished at minus-5. But with 21 years of experience, and 182 career playoff games to his credit, Recchi knows what it takes to do the things that don’t show up in the box score. His veteran poise, grit and ability to generate traffic in front of the net could be huge for the Bruins.
Rich Peverley, who was added prior to the trade deadline like Kaberle, is also coming off a relatively quiet series against the Lightning, tallying only two points in the seven games. But against an athletic team like the Canucks, his speed could be a major asset.
Peverley performed well against the Montreal Canadiens, and he might need to step up in an expanded role against the Canucks, another team with quick, playmaking forwards. If he provides the Bruins with solid minutes, it could go a long way toward keeping the team’s top two lines fresh.
And who could forget rookie Tyler Seguin‘s offensive outbursts in Games 1 and 2 against the Lightning, in which he scored six points. While Seguin hasn’t scored since, there’s no denying his offensive ability.
With some more playoff experience under his belt, including a pressure-packed Game 7 in the Eastern Conference final, the 19-year-old might be able to elevate his game like he did early in the last series. If he does, it will provide a huge boost to a Bruins team that prides itself on its balanced offensive attack.
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