Boston Bruins
Bruins Considering Massive Shakeup To Spark Miserable Power Play
BRIGHTON — The Boston Bruins have been nothing short of miserable when it has come to scoring with a five-on-four advantage this year.
Having found the back of the net on just 12 percent of its chances through 25 games, Boston is the not-so-proud owner of the second-worst power play in the NHL.
After more than a month and a half of waiting for things to suddenly begin clicking, the Bruins are considering making a massive mix-up to both of their man-advantage units.
“We’re having struggles with it right now, so we want to make sure that we’re covering all our bases,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco said Saturday at Warrior Ice Arena. “We want to see players in different spots and see how we look today in practice. We’ll judge it after and make an assessment to decide what we want to do moving forward.”
The most significant change is the separation of David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, who have been staples alongside each other on Boston’s top man-advantage unit all season and for the past number of years.
Now, Pastrnak is set up to play on a unit with Justin Brazeau at the crease, Pavel Zacha in the middle, and Charlie McAvoy at the point while he and Morgan Geekiea are positioned out at the faceoff circles.
Meanwhile, the other unit features Trent Frederic at the net front and Charlie Coyle occupying the bumper, while Elias Lindholm and Marchand man the wings, and Mason Lohrei controls everything from up top.
Bruins power play units:
Frederic
E. Lindholm – Coyle – Marchand
LohreiBrazeau
Pastrnak – Zacha – Geekie
McAvoy— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) November 30, 2024
“It’s just really to break it up and maybe put two competitive groups together,” said Sacco. “Sometimes, when you have that competition amongst yourselves, it makes for guys getting out there and challenging each other more.”
The Bruins seemed to have a breakthrough last week when they scored a power-play goal in three straight games but have since failed to convert in any of their last three on a combined six opportunities.
Friday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins was especially as the power plays’ shortcomings on three opportunities prevented the Bruins from building on top of an early first-period lead, as they ultimately fell 2-1.
“We haven’t done a great job,” Marchand said. “Most of the really good power plays are not good in just the initial set but also on the second and third recoveries. Penalty kills are really good in that initial set. They keep us to the outside. You got to get it inside and around the crease to create opportunities.”
After operating at a by-no-means impressive but still respectable 22 percent clip last year, the Bruins have fallen into a formulaic routine whenever an opposing player has been sent to the penalty box. Penalty kills are easily able to predict when and where the Bruins are going to shoot from, and breaking that pattern is the first step of many toward giving the power play some actual power.
“The unpredictability part comes from more shots,” said Sacco. “I’ve said this before, it’s not just shooting for the sake of shooting, but the unpredictability comes when you break down a PK. When you shoot more, the rebounds come out, and there’s chaos in front of the net. The defensive team is trying to sort out their coverage, and they’re collapsing. It creates chaos, and that’s where we, as a power play, can start to find some openings, hopefully.”
The Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow afternoon at TD Garden for their Centennial Game. The game is scheduled to begin 4:15 p.m., but fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 2:45 p.m. for the start of the pregame ceremony.
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98 problems
November 30, 2024 at 3:16 pm
There isn’t an AHL team that would have Brazeau on the power play only an NHL team that seems to be fooling itself into believing it is a competitive, playoff caliber team. This should be a sure sign to ownership that this team is an offensively challenged, mediocre team built with mostly 3rd and 4th liners by the Teflon Don GM. It was poorly constructed from Day 1 with players that didn’t work with the former coach’s system with all the big, slow, soft players. Changing coaches to a more defensive focused system won’t produce more wins because they can’t win every game 1 to 0. The only big change this team can make to start putting it in the right direction is the move on from the know it all GM that built a team of non-tradeable assets with the overpriced, trade protected contracts he used to sign this group of players. Need new vision from a GM, like B. Lawton that can incorporate analytics into player evaluation and cap management.
Mike
December 2, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Sweeney needs to go. Brazeau would not be on the PP if Sweeney could assess skill and changed his stupid focus on building the team – slow and big. Duchene was a UFA last season and at $3M is a better deal than Elias. As for the PP Geekie and Zacha need to be traded for a bag of pucks – neither are 1st liners or should be on any PP. Please compare that to most any other teams’ top 3. FYI – DeBrusk leads Vancouver in goals (LMAO). He had speed and could finish. More than I can say for Geeks and Zacha. Lastly why not have Koepke, Beecher and Kastelic run the 1st PP unit. they can’t do any worse? and have Pasta, Elias and the rest of them watch until they step up. Might send a message.
AndreB
December 2, 2024 at 8:17 pm
98: YOU? AGAIN? Tiresome.
Rick W Murray
November 30, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Brazeau? What about Geekie?! half the team are playing like they are on their last legs. Sweeney needs to swing a massive trade or the bruins are sunk. I can’t even watch any more it’s like watching paint dry. Painfull.Boycott, till Sweeney gets off his hands and does something.
Justme
December 1, 2024 at 7:30 am
Whine spilling over from other sites from the Bruin sommelier
Everyone enjoy the drivel Always make laugh
Rick W Murray
December 1, 2024 at 2:09 pm
What happened to one of your many other aliases Justne? Cat got your tongue Jimmy? Now you go back to your bedroom put your little head on the pillow and go for a nice nap.
Jeophrie
December 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Fair weather fan
AndreB
December 2, 2024 at 8:20 pm
Murray: Obviously DKS about hockey.
dj55
November 30, 2024 at 4:10 pm
The problem with the power play is it’s to predictable. They need to stop looking for the perfect shot and just shoot as much as possible. Shots cause deflections, rebounds and gets the defense running around.
JohnnyM
November 30, 2024 at 5:44 pm
Sure, DS played over 1K games, was an average player, at best, as a GM, has made some decent trades at the deadline. As a negotiator, absolutely horrific! Sam Reinhardt hits for 57 goals last season and resigns for under 9 million a year, Pastrana signs for 11+million! DS has to go, along with Neely! Although I’m a firm believer in size, physical/emotional toughness, speed has to be sprinkled in, fresh ideas, creativity, vision, are badly needed, this would be their last year.
Madalton
November 30, 2024 at 10:47 pm
Pasta was younger when he signed his contract in March 2023. He had scored 300 goals in less than 600 games. Reinhart had score 250 goals in 700 games and before last year, he never scored more than 33 goals in a season. Not sure I would have gave him the same amount as Pasta. Who knows if he would be able to repeat a 50 goals season again.
And don’t forget that there is no income tax in Florida. Florida teams are able to pay less their players. With a $9 M contract, Reinhart has more money in his pocket than Pasta with a $11.25 M.
Cable
December 1, 2024 at 12:56 pm
A ex coach once said.during the playoffs last season …can’t win if you can’t score …so what did the Bruins FO do…..they loose goal scoring this past offseason and DON’T add any
CouchCoach
December 2, 2024 at 8:39 am
Loving every minute of it, being a Leaf’s fan it’s nice to know that it’s the Panthers that’s going to give this Leaf’s team come the playoffs their biggest challenge. Tampa still has some bite they’ve at least got their two front teeth, but the Bruins have all of a sudden become toothless. The writing was on the wall in the off-season with signings, player’s leaving,contract disputes but when they fired Monty you knew this team was sunk. Can’t wait till the next meeting between the Leaf’s and Bruins and hopefully healthy, if so that should be a good beat down for the Leaf’s, first beat them on the scoreboard, then beat them on the ice,it’s not like the Leaf’s don’t have some pretty tough players now. Heck the way it’s playing out for the Bruins they may not even make the playoffs. Thank’s Sweeny keep up the good work.