BOSTON — One area that has been overlooked a bit in the Bruins’ recent frustrating losses is the improvement on special teams, specifically the power play.
Boston had the NHL’s third-best power play last season, which was a real weapon because the B’s also dominated 5-on-5 play (179 goals, third-most in NHL).
The 2014-15 campaign mostly has been a different story. The loss of 30-goal-scoring forward Jarome Iginla and assistant coach Geoff Ward partly are to blame, but the loss of top-six center David Krejci for 20 games also played a huge part in Boston’s lack of success with the man advantage.
Krejci returned to the lineup on Dec. 17 and the B’s have scored five power play goals in eight games since for a 26 percent success rate.
B’s defenseman Torey Krug scored his second power play goal in Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, which gives Boston three straight games with a power-play tally for the first time all season. The Bruins had 12 shot attempts (four on goal) in 5:36 of time with the man advantage Saturday.
“When your power play’s scoring, the number of power plays we get and at the same time we’ve got some big kills where this night could’ve been a lot worse if our penalty killers hadn’t done the job they did,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said.
Boston’s power play has averaged 4.25 scoring chances and 8.13 shot attempts in the eight games since Krejci rejoined the team, per War on Ice. Along with the five goals they’ve scored in that span, the Bruins now rank 15th in power play percentage (18.7) after being in the bottom half of the league throughout the first two months of the season.
The penalty kill has been inconsistent all season, but it was one of the main reasons why the B’s had a chance to beat the Senators. Boston was 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and did a tremendous job on two 5-on-3 Senators power plays (1:43 in the second period and 0:47 in the third period). Boston’s top penalty-killing forward, Patrice Bergeron, was in the box for a portion of the second Ottawa 5-on-3 advantage.
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask made five shorthanded saves and a few of them were on shots from the low slot. Boston’s penalty kill also was aided by winning four of six shorthanded faceoffs, which allowed B’s defensemen to clear the zone.
The last 10 games have included a few frustrating losses for the Bruins, but their improvement on special teams is an encouraging sign heading into the second half of the regular season. The Bruins have played in 21 games decided by one goal and and they’re 9-7-5 in those games. Boston will win a lot more of these one-goal games if its special teams continue to improve.
“The way we play special teams are really important,” Bruins forward David Krejci said. “I thought the (penalty kill) did a very good job (Saturday). Two five on threes and we got one goal out of three power plays. A couple of good looks.
“I thought the special teams was decent, so we have to build on that and hopefully we all play a good game (Sunday), good special teams again and get the two points.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
