Bruins disappointing on all levels……

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Boston, MA – With the TUFHL season a little over 33% (30 games played) the Bruins find themselves 3 points out of a playoff position.  Let’s take a look at why…..

 Goals for – 26^th

Goal Against – 14^th

PP% - 8^th

PK% - 9^th

 The glaring issue is scoring being 26^th in scoring tells you all you need to know.  Players are not living up to the stats on the back of their hockey cards.  The team’s leading scorer is defenseman Charlie MacAvoy (8g-27a=35pts).  The goal scoring leaders are Nino Neiderreiter and Jonathan Marchessault with 10 each. 

 Captain John Tavares has not found his groove compiling a poultry 4 goals and 14 assists in 30 games while his linemate Taylor Hall has fareda little bit better tallying 9 goals and 17 assists.  Bruins were expecting much more production from these stars.  The club’s defensive play has been, at best, pedestrian.  Youngster Michael McLeod was counted on to be the lead PK player but is sporting a horrible “-15” which is bad but adding to this problem is his linemate Anders Bjork having a “-12”. 

 The club is young and perhaps patience is needed allowing the talent to develop.  The Bruins traded up to get the 1^st overall pick and selected Alexis Lafreniere.  His rookie season has been a struggle. Lafreniere has been in and out of the lineup and found some playing time in Providence. He has dressed for 12 games for the Bs with only 1 goal.  Both fans and management anticipated him coming in and getting top 6 minutes.  Time will be needed for Alexei to develop and adjust to the pro game.  It is too early to label him as a bust.  Management has stated Alexei will be a big part of the future and their confidence has not waned.

 Most of the goaltending duties have gone to veteran Petr Mzazek with rookie Jeremy Swayman serving as his caddie. Mzarek has been inconsistent putting up a mediocre SV% of .889 /GAA 3.35 with Swayman battling injuries and inconsistency with his SV% of .906 /GAA 3.28.  If these stats don’t improve, the Bruins won’t be in post season contention.

 Management still believes this team can turn it around and thus has not investigated trading away pieces. However, when pressed on what may change their thinking, the response was more losses and falling further out of the playoff picture.