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ESPN employees
Heading into Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+), the Boston Bruins are on tempo for 66 wins and 140 factors, each of which might set NHL data (presently 62 and 132, respectively). For a staff that misplaced within the first spherical of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and fired its coach in the summertime, this has actually been a surprisingly nice begin.
However who has been most liable for this begin? Can any staff within the Japanese Convention mount a critical problem relating to the postseason? And what ought to Boston do forward of the March 3 commerce deadline?
Our consultants sort out these questions and extra right here:
Who has been Boston’s MVP up to now?
Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Hampus Lindholm. He was large for them when Charlie McAvoy was out of the lineup. Moreover, he’s all the pieces groups search in a top-four defenseman in that he can lead a staff in 5-on-5 ice time whereas additionally being a determine on each particular groups items.
Arda Öcal, NHL host: Linus Ullmark. A .938 save share. Broke the NHL report for fewest selections wanted to get to 25 wins (28). A 25-2-1 report. He is just about locked up the Vezina Trophy midway by the season. Leads the NHL in saves above anticipated (27.3) and wins above substitute (4.55). He is made 804 saves on 857 photographs confronted this season. There are numerous gamers to select from for this query, however I am throwing flowers to Ullmark.
Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Jim Montgomery. After all, Ullmark, Lindholm, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, amongst others, deserve the credit score and a spotlight they’ve drawn by nice seasons. However what an ideal marriage Montgomery has entered into with Boston. The Bruins have responded to his teaching fashion and system so seamlessly it is unusual to suppose his tenure started just a few brief months in the past.
Montgomery coaxes the proper buy-in out of his gamers, and appears to know when it is time to tinker and alter issues as much as preserve the Bruins contemporary. Any staff within the league would need to bottle Montgomery’s method proper now.
Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: The solutions right here learn like somebody dared my fellow round-tablers to not write “David Pastrnak.” Nevertheless it’s David Pastrnak. He has 37 objectives and 32 assists in 47 video games, making him the NHL’s highest-scoring non-Oiler. One in all my favourite unfancy stats is “first objectives,” as within the participant who opens the scoring in a sport. Pastrnak has finished that 9 instances for the NHL’s finest defensive staff, main the league in that class. And by no means underestimate the goofy, infectious pleasure he brings to the rink every single day.
He’ll be compensated handsomely in his subsequent contact for all of this — it is only a matter of how lengthy Pasta needs to decide to the ‘B’ understanding that the Bergeron Period will finish quickly.
Who’s the Bruins’ greatest challenger within the East?
Clark: For now, it is the New Jersey Devils. They obtain offensive contributions from in all places, whereas having a defensive construction that is without doubt one of the finest within the league. The Devils have steadiness and should have the strongest likelihood of pushing the Bruins.
Öcal: Solely as a result of the Bruins have struggled probably the most this season in Canada, I will go together with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If there was ever a time for the Leafs to exorcise the Boston demons of the previous, it will be this 12 months. I will say this, I’ve by no means heard extra Bruins followers on the ESPN campus say “watch them win the Presidents Trophy then pull a Tampa and get swept within the playoffs.”
Primarily based on the present standings, that would not be precisely the identical state of affairs — because the Bruins and Leafs would not meet till the second spherical. They play twice extra earlier than the postseason begins, and it will be fascinating to see the Leafs problem the Bruins in these video games.
Shilton: Contemplating I already picked Carolina to win the Stanley Cup this season … I ought to in all probability say them. And I nonetheless suppose the Hurricanes — with their depth of ahead expertise, strong again finish, a number of goaltending choices and wonderful teaching — might emerge victorious from the East.
By way of who may problem Boston most in a playoff sequence, although? Toronto. By no means thoughts the historical past between these two golf equipment in latest postseason conferences. The Leafs would match up effectively in opposition to the Bruins due to how comparable the groups will be: top-end offensive threats, puck-moving defenders who like getting concerned, a goaltending tandem that is among the many league’s finest. Going head-to-head each different night time might deliver out the most effective in each groups, and Boston would probably discover a worthy opponent in Toronto.
Wyshynski: There’s one factor the Devils, Hurricanes and Leafs all have in widespread, which is that none of them have received a Stanley Cup inside the final three seasons — not to mention two of them consecutively. This model of the Tampa Bay Lightning is not nearly as good as earlier incarnations — frankly, they have not been the identical since their Cup-winning checking line was damaged up because of the wage cap and enlargement draft in 2021. Now they’re minus Ondrej Palat and Ryan McDonagh, too. However they nonetheless have Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, Alex Killorn and Anthony Cirelli. Brandon Hagel has discovered his groove.
This entrance workplace will discover a approach to bolster their blue line, which might use one other veteran hand. Oh, and the opposite factor these Japanese Convention contenders haven’t got? Andrei Vasilevskiy, the most effective postseason goalie since Martin Brodeur, and somebody who might steal a sequence in opposition to the mighty B’s on his personal.
One phrase to explain the Bruins’ season:
Clark: Astonishing. We’re in late January and they’re able to complete the month with almost 85 factors. That is simply silly. Particularly once they have extra factors by 47 video games than some groups had on the finish of final season.
Öcal: WHAT???? Bear in mind how we had been speaking concerning the Bruins earlier than the season began? Oh cool, they’ve a brand new coach. David Krejci‘s again. “The Final Dance” in Beantown. Finish of an period. However now they’re on tempo to have the most effective season in NHL historical past. You would not have even predicted this for any staff you thought would win the President’s Trophy earlier than the season began, not to mention Boston. It is completely unimaginable to see.
Shilton: Serendipitous. The concept Boston — the too-old, too-injured, too-predictable staff they had been forecast to be in September — could be steamrolling its approach by the NHL? Whereas barely breaking a sweat? It is sudden. It is fantastic. It is extremely enjoyable to look at.
Wyshynski: Bergeron. The free agent captain’s choice to return to this staff was the validation the Bruins wanted that that they had one other run left in them. He is a rallying cry — “win one for Bergy!” — and a de facto affiliate head coach and nonetheless the most effective defensive heart in hockey.
What do you count on the Bruins to do forward of the commerce deadline?
Clark: Attempt to get one other bottom-six ahead who can strengthen that a part of their lineup with a bit extra manufacturing, whereas additionally having another choice they’ll use on the penalty kill as they give the impression of being to be strategic with Patrice Bergeron‘s utilization going ahead.
Shilton: I might count on GM Don Sweeney to have a look at his staff and suppose, “If it ain’t broke, do not repair it.” However after all, a GM’s job isn’t finished, and there is probably some modicum of enchancment the Bruins might make.
Well being is the primary factor. If, over the subsequent month, Boston runs into damage points that may change the technique. The wage cap may stop the Bruins from chasing any high-end leases or big-name contracts. Extra life like targets might be a bottom-six winger like Ivan Barbashev, who has a historical past with Montgomery from their time in St. Louis. Boston clearly needs to win now. However including a giant piece on the deadline would not all the time equal success, and the Bruins do not need to do an excessive amount of and disrupt the great factor they’ve going.
Wyshynski: I believe they go big-name looking and land Bo Horvat from the Vancouver Canucks. Bergeron, Krejci, Horvat and Charlie Coyle up the center would give Boston unparalleled heart depth. It might additionally create a succession plan in case Bergeron and Krejci are each finished after this Boston run, as Horvat is an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer time. He will not come low cost, however whenever you’re all-in, you are all-in.
What has impressed you probably the most about what Jim Montgomery has finished?
Clark: How he maximizes his expertise. We have seen it with Jake DeBrusk, Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha. They’re all having profession seasons below Montgomery. DeBrusk could be on tempo for almost 70 factors if not for his Winter Traditional damage. Frederic had 12 profession objectives coming into this season, already has 10 this season, and is flirting with a possible 20-goal marketing campaign. In the meantime, Zacha is simply seven factors shy of a profession excessive.
Öcal: He isn’t resting on his early success. He is consistently tinkering with the lineup, in search of methods to get even 1% higher. Typically, it is to search out extra chemistry amongst gamers. Different instances, it is to handle ice time. One instance was the latest back-to-back in California, the place the Bruins had a unique lineup from San Jose to Anaheim, however received each video games, drubbing the Geese 7-1 within the second sport.
As a facet be aware, I believe it is spectacular that each Montgomery and Bruce Cassidy, his predecessor in Boston, might be coaching at the All-Star Game. Each coaches are thriving in new environments.
Shilton: Very similar to the Bruins’ season itself, Montgomery has merely been a nice shock. Nevertheless it’s not simply the match he is had behind the bench. It is how Montgomery continues to push Boston that’s spectacular. There isn’t any concern in Montgomery. He seems to belief his gamers they usually in flip consider in his strategies. That is one of the simplest ways to elucidate how Montgomery has been capable of have such fast success with particular person skaters and in constructing the Bruins up as an entire powerhouse unit.
Wyshynski: The way in which the gamers discuss him. It is past apparent that Cassidy’s specific model of depth reached its expiration date for the Bruins. From coaching camp onward, gamers raved about Montgomery’s demeanor, accountability, teaching techniques and even the sense of enjoyable he managed to deliver again to video games and practices. Their juggernaut success is not coincidental to his arrival. He is the proper coach on the proper time for the proper staff, and it has been inspiring to look at.