Power Play Struggles ‘Source Of Frustration’ For Bruins

The Boston Bruins did almost everything right against the Washington Capitals in their final game of 2024.

Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, a common theme of not being able to score, especially on the power play, plagued the Bruins and Boston suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to close out the calendar year.

“It’s frustrating when when you don’t score,” Charlie McAvoy told reporters in Washington, per team-provided video. “We had some looks, we had some chances, and in the third, we got sustained pressure on some shifts and then 6-on-5, we get some good looks and a lot of shot opportunities. It just didn’t get across (the goal line), so it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating to lose. We’ll have to find ways to get better. Find ways to be more dangerous.”

Boston’s inability to capitalize on the man advantage has contributed to its offensive woes. The Bruins currently rank 30th overall and have a 13% success rate on the power play.

“We’ve had stretches where we’ve had loads of chances and not scored,” McAvoy said. “We’ve had stretches where we have no chances. It’s certainly been a difficult year as far as trying to find chemistry.

“Now we’re changing it up. Now, we’re trying to find groups of five that might work better together. … We’ll get better, and be better with each other. We’re trying to compete. … I don’t care who’s out there.”

McAvoy added that even if the Bruins don’t score on the man advantage, they can still swing the momentum in their favor by generating chances.

“At the beginning of the year, we had a couple of games where it felt like we had a lot of good chances and a lot of good looks,” McAvoy said. “It was clicking, but we weren’t scoring. You don’t score, and then the frustration happens.

“Honestly, it’s been a source of frustration for the whole year for a lot of guys. It’s been like a rollercoaster, and not letting it affect the five-on-five play. … We need to make sure that we’re holding ourselves to a high standard. All we need is one game, two games where we get looks, and now you’re just playing. Confidence is a funny thing. A little bit of it goes a long way.”

As the calendar flips to 2025, the Bruins hold an overall record of 20-15-4 and third place in the Atlantic Division. It’s a bit different than the last couple of seasons when Boston was sitting at or near the top of the Eastern Conference.

“This has been a year like really none other since I’ve been here. It’s a lot of different emotions,” McAvoy acknowledged. “Really, how I feel, I think … I don’t know. It almost doesn’t really even matter. We’re in a playoff spot, and that’s really all it is.”

McAvoy added: “Obviously, offensive production has been tough to come by this year. Power play has been tough; there’s been some things, but at the end of the day, defensively, I feel as good as ever. I know that I can keep the puck out of my net, and there’s a lot of things that I can do to impact a hockey game that I’m relied on to do. And that’s what I’m taking pride in, and the rest of it, I’m trying to do the best I can I think everybody in here is doing that.”