The Bruins’ early-season defensive record looks impressive on the surface, and it gets even more interesting once you dig into the numbers. Boston has allowed 32 goals through 14 games, which puts Marco Sturm’s team second in the league. Only the Dallas Stars have been better, giving up 30 through 13 games.
That kind of start naturally invites the easy explanation: Jeremy Swayman is carrying the load. And sure, he has absolutely been a big reason Boston’s numbers look this strong.
But that doesn’t mean the Bruins should be reduced to just a goaltending story. Swayman is part of the team for a reason, and the Bruins have every right to benefit from having him back there.
At the same time, the defensive picture still leaves room for growth. Boston has spent stretches getting pushed around in its own zone, and if that part of the game tightens up even a little, this group could climb into truly elite territory.
Right now, the Bruins are already near the top of the standings in goals allowed. Clean up a few details, and they could become the stingiest team in the league.
The catch is that this hasn’t exactly been a one-week issue. Over the past two seasons, the Bruins haven’t been able to fully solve it.
Sturm’s system isn’t broken, but it does give up high-danger looks. Since Sturm took over this new-look group, Swayman has sat near the top of the league in goals saved above expected, and that’s no accident given the quality of chances Boston has surrendered.
The deeper metrics back up that tension. According to MoneyPuck, the Bruins are around the middle of the pack in high-danger shots allowed, but they sit in the top half of the league in medium- and low-danger shots allowed.
For a team that’s second in goals against, that’s a notable split. It suggests Boston isn’t just surviving because of one area of the ice - it’s also asking its goalie to clean up a steady stream of chances that could be avoided.
That’s why Swayman belongs in the Vezina Trophy conversation. It’s also why a few defensive tweaks could make a real difference. If the Bruins can cut down the chances they’re giving up, their goals-against rate should fall even more, and they might eventually move ahead of Dallas.
Offensively, Boston has done enough to support that kind of push. The Bruins are eighth in the league in goals for, which has them second in goal differential.
But the attack has cooled over the last two games, both losses, and that makes the defensive side even more important. If Boston wants to stay near the top of the league, the defense may need to get better - which sounds dramatic given where the Bruins already sit, but the numbers say it anyway.
In Other News...
Bruins Just Got A Goalie Performance They Couldnt Ignore
Bostons comeback win over Chicago had plenty of moving parts, but Michael DiPietros night was the kind that tends to linger with a coaching staff. The Bruins erased a 4-2 deficit late in the third period and finished off a 5-4 overtime victory on Elias Lindholms winner, yet the goaltending was a major reason they were even in position to steal it after a rough start.
DiPietro has been getting his chance in Boston since the Bruins moved Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers, and he made the most of this one with 37 saves. In a game that could have slipped away quickly, he gave Boston the steadiness it needed to hang around long enough for the rally to take hold, which is exactly the sort of performance that can complicate the conversation in net. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Have A Growing Nikita Zadorov Problem Again
Nikita Zadorovs discipline is back in the spotlight after another roughing incident, this time against Chicago defenseman Alex Vlasic on Oct. 31. The Bruins blueliner was involved in a second-period scrum and then punched Vlasic, drawing penalties and putting Boston in an uncomfortable spot with one of its most physical defensemen.
Marco Sturm has already addressed the issue, pointing to Zadorovs discipline and what the Bruins need from him going forward. For a team that leans on Zadorov for size, edge and toughness, the challenge is finding the line between playing hard and giving away momentum, especially when those lapses keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins About To Face The Stretch That Will Define This Start
The Bruins have given themselves an early cushion with a strong start, and now comes the part of the schedule that can tell whether it means anything. A tight overtime win over Chicago kept the momentum going, but the next stretch is a different kind of test, with Vegas, Pittsburgh and Florida all waiting in line as Boston tries to hold onto its place atop the Atlantic.
What makes this run so important is the way the Bruins want to win it, not just the results. The emphasis has been on offensive balance, defensive consistency and dependable goaltending, and those are the ingredients that tend to get exposed when the schedule stiffens. If Boston can keep those areas steady through this stretch, it will say plenty about how real this fast start is. [Read more 🡒]