3-2-1…. This isn’t a countdown folks but rather the Boston Bruins record six games into the 2024-25 season. By all indications it’s a rather pedestrian start for the group and there could very well be a chemistry bridge to cross yet. As noted here last week, the Bruins will rely on previous seasons development and chemistry this year. However, with five new faces in the lineup, finding their team rhythm may be a work in progress. One thing is clear however; The Bruins still haven’t found a way to beat the Florida Panthers with both regulation losses coming at the hands of the defending Champs. The Bruins once again fell into the revenge trap Florida has been setting since last season’s playoffs. Boston will have to decide that beating them on the scoresheet is more important that exacting revenge next time they meet. Retaliation penalties simply kill Boston in these matchups and Florida currently has them playing right into their hands. The Panthers boast high end speed and skill, something the Bruins will continue to struggle with especially on the penalty kill. It’s early, but opponents speed has been an issue thus far.
What’s Working
How about that fourth line?! Your current points leader for the 2024-25 Boston Bruins is Cole Koepke. Just like you predicted when you drafted your fantasy team right? With a stat line of 3-3-6 and a plus 10 rating, Koepke is single handedly keeping the offence alive. Which, isn’t ideal nor sustainable. The trio of Koepke, Beecher and fellow new comer Mark Kastelic are in fact a league best plus 8 and occupy the leader board for the team’s points total. The Bruins have landed something special here and though not the line that will ultimately carry them through the season, surprises like this are always welcome.
Zacha/Lindholm/Pastrnak line. They aren’t producing as much as hoped early on but this line has shown early chemistry. Lindholm has vastly improved the Bruins three zone play and has a FO rating of 51.4%. A big problem for Boston last season was their FO percentage after the combined loss of faceoff aces Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci to retirement. To these eyes Lindholm has similar attributes to both Bruin legends.
Joonas Korpisalo. Okay, he isn’t lighting the world on fire but he certainly isn’t off to a bad start at 1-1. His breakaway save on Miles Wood Thursday night was a tone setter for the club as an early goal against may have turned the tide in the Avs favor. The Bruins won the game in the end and Korpisalo notched his first win with the Black and Gold.
What’s Not
Leaders need to lead. Brad Marchand is almost thirty-seven years old. He’s coming off three offseason surgeries. He has a revolving door at right wing alongside centreman Charlie Coyle. Yet, we all expect more from the Bruins captain. After six games he sits at 0-4-4, which is not ideal. Again, it is early and his one game preseason didn’t help any but Marchand needs to take a page from Cole Keopke and start scoring for this group.
More Pasta please. David Pastrnak has arrived – in a sense. He’s playing and has scored four times but we haven’t seen THE David Pastrnak yet. Maybe it’s just a case of getting more reps in with Lindholm and Zacha. So far, he’s leaving more to be desired.
Swayman tries to shake the rust. After missing all of preseason Jeremy Swayman has now played four of the Bruins six games. He has improved from game to game and naturally is feeling more comfortable in the crease. He’s 2-1-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .905 SV% which will surely only improve as he continues to work his way back into form. Still, he hasn’t looked as sharp given the time he missed early on.
Parade to the box. The Bruins have already amassed 83 minutes in penalties, good for second league wide. It’s not a stat to boast. Though their PK rating is decent at 82%, undisciplined play has been costly. Case in point, Zadorov and his 19 minutes in penalties needs to be better at staying out of the box.
The Lookahead
The Bruins finish their three-game road trip on Tuesday vs the winless Nashville Predators. This will be a good test for Boston as the Preds are surely sick of losing. They return home for games versus the Dallas Stars and division rival Toronto Maple Leafs to end the week. All strong teams and games this team will need to be at their best for. As great of a story as the fourth line has turned out to be, Boston will need more from their star players to have a successful week.
G-Rant @TheRealG_Rant / Grant Cumming. Bruins fan. Bigger dreams, bigger screens, bigger feelings are planned.
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