Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

[TheJoker12]

Hi everyone!

Some of you may remember my Bruins franchise from last year which unfortunately came to a sudden end due to some personal reasons. But I'm back with NHL 21!

Once again I'm using the Bs - no expansion draft/team this year. I really thought about switching the divisions to match the current NHL ones but decided against it because I'd like this to go several seasons.

Going to stick with the same format of last year - bi-weekly reports with a focus on one major matchup during that stretch. My plan is to play about two out of every three games, with the third one simmed.

Sliders - I'm going to try ChaseB's set and make some tweaks as I see fit.

Enjoy!

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins Beat: 20/21 Season Preview

Brad Marchand made headlines by stating that he was at 80% last season due to injury, and is excited to be back at 100% heading into this season.


Forwards
First Line
Brad Marchand (91 OVR) - Patrice Bergeron (91 OVR) - David Pastrnak (91 OVR)
- The perfection line reunites once again. Many B's fans have wondered whether this line should be split up to help balance the team's scoring, and Bruce Cassidy hasn't been afraid to do exactly that, but it never seems to work out as well as when this trio is together. Both Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are coming off off-season surgeries, so don't be surprised if they get off to a little bit of a slow start.

Second Line
Jake DeBrusk (83 OVR) - David Krejci (85 OVR) - Ondrej Kase (82 OVR)
- Ondrej Kase has yet to score a goal for the Bruins, and has tallied just five assists in 19 games with the team. The B's hope that a regular shift alongside David Krejci will help Kase find his offensive game. The team also gave out a modest contract to Jake DeBrusk, who will need to prove himself over the next two years if he wants to remain in Boston.

Third Line
Nick Ritchie (81 OVR) - Charlie Coyle (83 OVR) - Craig Smith (81 OVR)
- The big addition of the off-season for the B's was certainly Craig Smith. Smith won't be scoring 40 goals, but he's a solid two-way player and loves throwing the puck on net - something that has been a problem for this Boston team in the past. Nick Ritchie was a bust last year and drew the ire of many Bruins' fans, but just like with Kase, a more traditional role and season should help him. His spot in the lineup is far from guaranteed, however.

Fourth Line
Anders Bjork (78 OVR) - Sean Kuraly (79 OVR) - Chris Wagner (77 OVR)
- Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner remain mainstays on this fourth line, although the team hopes both are better than they were in the bubble last year. Anders Bjork beats out Trent Frederic for the last spot, but the time is ticking on him to find his game. Bjork has the skills to be a top six forward but never seems to put it together.

Extra
Par Lindholm (77 OVR) - Trent Frederic (75 OVR)
- Don't be surprised if Frederic gets a look early. Cassidy loves his game and physical presence, and he could replace Ritchie or Bjork in the lineup. Lindholm is there for depth purposes and because the team wants Jack Studnicka to get a regular shift rather than sitting in the press box (more on that below).

Defense
First Pair
Jeremy Lauzon (77 OVR) - Charlie McAvoy (86 OVR)
- Jeremy Lauzon has played 46 NHL games in his career. He's replacing a guy who played over 1500 games. That's a tall order, and no one expects Lauzon to replicate what Chara did for this team, but he's getting the first opportunity to play alongside Charlie McAvoy.

Second Pair
Matt Grzelcyk (80 OVR) - Brandon Carlo (81 OVR)
- If Lauzon feels like he's replacing a legend, Matt Grzelcyk is right there with him. While no one will mistake Torey Krug for Zdeno Chara, Krug was a local legend and an outstanding offensive player. Grzelcyk has shown some potential, and this pairing has the chance to be better defensively as Krug did struggle during 5-on-5 play.

Third Pair
Jakub Zboril (74 OVR) - Kevan Miller (80 OVR)
- This pair is a complete wildcard. Zboril has played just 13 career games, and Kevan Miller hasn't played in nearly two years. Miller is finally healthy, and will be asked to replace some of the physicality the team lost with Chara leaving. Zboril was Providence's best defenseman last year, but his spot is far from guaranteed.

Extras
Connor Clifton (77 OVR)
- Just like with Studnicka, the team wants Urho Vaakanainen to get a regular shift. Connor Clifton beats out John Moore for the last spot on the roster, but don't be surprised if he gets a look early in the year, especially if Zboril or Miller struggle to find their game.

Goalies
Tuukka Rask (90 OVR) - Jaroslav Halak (83 OVR)
- Rask remains one of the best goaltenders in the league. He also bailed on the team in the bubble last year, and has been public enemy number one in Boston for a while now. This may be his last opportunity to prove he has what it takes to win a Stanley Cup, as his contract expires at the end of this season. Halak remains a quality backup but last year's playoffs proved just that - he's a backup.

Power Play #1
Nick Ritchie - Patrice Bergeron - Brad Marchand
David Krejci - David Pastrnak
- How will the Bruins replace Torey Krug on the power play? Apparently with five forwards. Bruce Cassidy has decided to put his four best skill players on the ice together, with Nick Ritchie standing in front of the net. They may give up some shorthanded goals, but they may put up the most power play goals in the league.

Power Play #2
Craig Smith - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Charlie McAvoy - Matt Grzelcyk
- A pretty good second unit. If the first unit fails to score or gets a little to reckless, don't be surprised if McAvoy or Grzelcyk get a look to help shore up the backend.

Penalty Kill #1
Patrice Bergeron - Brad Marchand
Jeremy Lauzon - Brandon Carlo
- For the first time in over a decade, the B's penalty kill won't be led by Zdeno Chara. Bergeron, Marchand, and Carlo remain, and the team will give Lauzon a chance on the top unit to start the year. Marchand remains as arguably the most dangerous shorthanded player in the league.

Penalty Kill #2
Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Charlie McAvoy - Kevan Miller
- Kuraly, Wagner, and McAvoy remain on the second unit, with Miller adding some toughness in front of the net. The B's had one of the best penalty kill units in the league last year, but losing Chara will likely affect that, at least early in the year.

Providence Players to Watch
Jack Studnicka (77 OVR) - Zach Senyshyn (72 OVR) - John Moore (80 OVR) - Urho Vaakanainen (78 OVR) - Dan Vladar (76 OVR)
- Studnicka and Vaakanainen had a shot to make this team out of camp, but neither did enough to earn a spot with significant playing time. As a result, it makes more sense for both players to get a regular shift in Providence, at least to start the year. The clock is ticking on Senyshyn, who could go down as one of the biggest busts in Bruins' draft history. The clock is also ticking for John Moore, who's contract looks worse and worse by the day. One interesting player to keep an eye on? Goaltender Dan Vladar, who was lit up by Tampa Bay last year in the playoffs but has the potential to be a solid goaltender. Will he be the B's starter next year, should Rask depart?

Five Questions for the B's
1. How do you replace Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug?
- Chara is in Washington, and Krug is in St. Louis. And the B's added...no one. Instead, the B's will turn to their own young guns in Lauzon, Zboril, and Grzelcyk, and hope that Kevan Miller returns to his pre-injury form. It's a big ask, and the answer to this question could make or break the Bruins' entire season.

2. Will the team finally find some secondary scoring?
- While Craig Smith is the only new addition to the lineup, we should also include Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie into this discussion, as they never got settled in the weirdness of last season. Smith and Coyle seem like a great match, and the B's hope that Kase finds some chemistry alongside David Krecji. At the end of the day, this team has been too top heavy for too long - it needs somebody to step up and support the first line.

3. Will Pasta reach 50?
- He would have last year had the season not been cut short due to COVID. David Pastrnak is one of the top five players in the league, and he has a chance to cement that this year by breaking the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career.

4. Is it Charlie McAvoy's breakout year?
- He won't have Big Z beside him for the first time in his career. And in a weird way, that might be a...good thing? McAvoy had to cover for the deficiencies in Chara's game, and as a result wasn't as free to roam the ice. That's no longer the case, as Jeremy Lauzon is a much better skater and puck mover. McAvoy will easily lead the team in minutes, and he has a real chance to establish himself as one of the best defenseman in the NHL.

5. How will Tuukka Rask respond?
- Rask took a lot of heat for leaving the bubble last year. In fact, there were even rumours that he would be traded in the offseason. While that didn't happen, there also has been very little talk about a contract extension for the Finnish netminder. Rask has long said he'll only play in Boston, but will the B's want him back? This remains a situation to watch.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Goals, goals, goals! Led by Perfection Line, B's offense explodes to start the year (October 3rd - October 18th)


O Captain, My Captain! Patrice Bergeron has totalled 15 points so far and wasn't afraid to throw down after knocking Connor McDavid out of the game.

Results
WIN 2-1 @ Washington Capitals
LOSE 5-4 @ Buffalo Sabres
LOSE 4-3 (OT) vs Ottawa Senators
WIN 8-1 vs Edmonton Oilers
WIN 5-3 vs Detroit Red Wings
LOSE 6-5 (SO) @ Calgary Flames
WIN 5-2 @ Edmonton Oilers
Record: 4-1-2 (Overall - 4-1-2, 10 points), 3rd in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 2-1 win at Washington Capitals

Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals
Oct 3, 2020 1 2 3 F BOS (0-0-0) 0 1 1 2 WAS (0-0-0) 0 0 1 1 Three Stars T. Rask 37 Saves P. Bergeron 1 G, 1 A B. Marchand 1 G, 1 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS WAS Shots on Goal 28 38 Hits 29 17 Faceoffs Won-Lost 18 15 Penalty Minutes 12:00 6:00 Power Plays Converted 0 1 Power Play Opportunities 2 5 Time on Attack 5:56 6:00
Scoring Summary SECOND PERIOD BOS 12:46 B. Marchand (1) (P. Bergeron, D. Pastrnak) THIRD PERIOD WAS 15:25 E. Kuznetsov (1) (N. Backstrom) BOS 18:00 P. Bergeron (1) (SH) (B. Marchand, C. McAvoy)

If you're a Boston sports fan, it probably seemed only fitting that Zdeno Chara, after playing 14 years with the Boston Bruins and winning a Stanley Cup back in 2011, would not only leave Boston, but go to Washington, a team the Bruins have only beaten twice since 2014.

Even more fitting? The B's opened their 2020/2021 season in...Washington.

The Capitals carried the play for the majority of the first period, with Tuukka Rask the only reason for the score to remain tied at zero heading into the second. That's when the Perfection Line got going against Chara of all people, working a beautiful cycle which eventually resulted in Brad Marchand taking a pass from Patrice Bergeron and ripping one past Henrik Lundqvist, the Caps' new netminder, for a 1-0 lead.

Washington would tie the game late in the third, and looked poised to steal one late after a tripping call on Sean Kuraly sent them to the power play. It was the Bruins, however, who struck the killing blow. Bergeron and Marchand, always dangerous shorthanded, set up a beautiful give and go which resulted in Bergy ripping home the eventual game winner.

It was an impressive start to the season for the B's, who not only beat their former captain, but also picked up a win against a team they've had more than their fair share of struggles with over the last decade.


Even the fourth line was getting in on the action as Chris Wagner notches his first of the year, although Boston would come up just short against Buffalo.

Other Notes...
- The B's failed to respond after their strong opening night performance, as they blew 3-1 leads in both their losses to the Sabres (5-4) and Senators (4-3 in overtime). The penalty kill, which was terrific against the Capitals, was abysmal, allowing four power play goals in the two losses.

- The Bruins took out their frustrations on the poor Edmonton Oilers, who must have left Boston as quickly as they could following an 8-1 debacle. Patrice Bergeron was simply ridiculous - he scored his third and fourth goals of the year, added two more assists, hammered Connor McDavid and won a fight. After the game it was revealed that McDavid separated his shoulder on the hit and will be out at least a month.

- After a relatively routine win over the Red Wings, thanks in large part to two goals by David Krejci, the team came up short against the Calgary Flames in a shootout. This time they rallied from down 3-1 with three goals in a span of just 58 seconds, but couldn't quite deliver the knockout punch. Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk were both -3 in the loss.

- Many thought this game could get ugly after the hit by Bergeron on McDavid just a few days earlier, but the Oilers came out with very little energy and actually fell behind 5-0 before adding two late goals. Bergeron once again scored twice, as the Oilers, who were outscored 13-3 in two games against the Bruins, thank the hockey gods they won't see Boston again this season.

Who's Hot
Offense - So far so good for this Bruins' offense, as they are tied with Carolina for the league lead in goals with 32 in just seven games so far. 10 different players have scored for Boston, while Patrice Bergeron leads the way with seven so far (more on him below).

Perfection Line - What more can be said about this trio? In just seven games, the top line for the B's have combined for 18 goals, 41 points, and an absurd +50 rating. +50 in seven games!! Outrageous.

Charlie McAvoy - McAvoy looks like he's ready to take the next step as the clear number one defenseman in Boston. He's tallied nine assists so far this year, leads the team with 17 hits and 20 takeaways, is playing 25:46 a night, and is already +15. Not a bad start to the year.

Who's Not
Power Play - It's amazing that the B's lead the league in scoring and yet have struggled mightily on the power play. Boston is just 1-13 with the man advantage so far, which ranks dead last in the league. Bruce Cassidy has said he's going to stick with the five forward grouping for now, but don't be surprised if a change comes sooner rather than later should the team continue to struggle.

Matt Grzelcyk - Not a great start to the year for Grz, who has yet to register a point and is a -3 so far. More concerning is the fact that he's registered just four shots on goal. The team needs Grzelcyk to provide some offense from the backend to help replace Torey Krug.

Providence Report
3-3-0, 20 goals for, 19 goals against
- Jakub Lauko 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points
- Jack Studnicka 5 assists, 5 points


The Perfection Line is off to a ridiculous start with 18 goals and a +50 rating in just seven games so far this year.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins continue to light up the scoreboard, move into 1st in the Atlantic Division (October 19th - November 1st)


Anders Bjork, playing alongside David Krejci for the first time this season, scores the game-winning goal against the Habs with just seven seconds remaining - his second goal in the contest.

Results
WIN 3-2 @ Vancouver Canucks
LOSE 2-1 (OT) @ Ottawa Senators
WIN 6-3 vs Philadelphia Flyers
WIN 4-3 vs Montreal Canadiens
WIN 4-3 (OT) @ Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 4-0-1 (Overall - 8-1-3, 19 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 4-3 win vs Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins
Oct 27, 2020 1 2 3 F MON (6-2-1) 2 1 0 3 BOS (6-1-3) 3 0 1 4 Three Stars A. Bjork 2 G, 1 A J. DeBrusk 1 G, 1 A P. Danault 2 A	Team Stats Comparison MON BOS Shots on Goal 18 36 Hits 17 31 Faceoffs Won-Lost 14 16 Penalty Minutes 5:00 11:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 3 0 Time on Attack 5:23 5:47
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD MON 1:18 J. Drouin (6) (P. Danault, J. Edmundson) BOS 3:47 A. Bjork (1) (J. DeBrusk, M. Grzelcyk) MON 7:41 J. Anderson (2) (M. Frolik, X. Ouellet) BOS 9:29 D. Pastrnak (7) (B. Marchand, J. Lauzon) BOS 10:17 J. DeBrusk (4) (D. Krejci, A. Bjork) SECOND PERIOD MON 6:55 B. Gallagher (8) (M. Frolik, P. Danault) THIRD PERIOD BOS 19:53 A. Bjork (2) (J. Zboril)

You can't go wrong with a Bruins-Habs tilt, especially when both teams are playing great hockey. The Habs came into Boston on a three-game win streak and just two points behind them in the standings. The story of the game, however, was a lineup shuffle by the Bruins.

It's not very often a team tinkers with a lineup that has scored the most goals in the NHL, but that's exactly what Bruce Cassidy did before this matchup with the rival Canadiens. It's no secret that Ondrej Kase has struggled since he arrived in Boston last March, and after netting just two assists and a poor -3 rating alongside David Krejci, Cassidy decided to sit him down.

Enter Anders Bjork.

Well, more accurately, hello Anders Bjork. Bjork has played in every game this season, but stuck on the fourth line, he failed to generate much, if any, offense. That certainly changed against the Habs.

Bjork picked up a goal and an assist in the first period alongside his new linemates, Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, and was all over the ice. With the game tied at three late in the third, it was Bjork who delivered the dagger, ripping a shot past Carey Price with just seven seconds remaining to give the Bruins the regulation victory.

In 15:39 minutes of ice time, Bjork picked up three points, was a +2, fired three shots on net and added two hits in arguably his best game as a Bruin. It will be interesting to see if Bjork can finally establish himself as a top-six winger in the league moving forward.


Sporting the reverse retros for the first time, the Bruins exploded for six goals against the Flyers, including two from Brad Marchand.

Other Notes...
- A solid, if uneventful, win to start the week against the Canucks. Craig Smith scored his first goal as a Bruin, while Patrice Bergeron netted the winner in the third period - his eighth goal already.

- The B's must be happy that they won't find the Senators on their schedule for the foreseeable future. After losing to Ottawa in overtime last week, they again came up short in extra time in a frustrating 2-1 loss. The Bruins outshot the Senators 42-25 but, for the first time this season, struggled to find the back of the net.

- It didn't take long for the Bruins to find their scoring touch again as they lit up the Flyers for six goals, with two coming on the power play. The Flyers, missing Carter Hart to injury, had no answer for the Bruins' top two lines, which combined to score five of the six goals.

- An early candidate for victory of the year in Carolina. The Hurricanes, looking for some revenge after they were eliminated by Boston in last year's bubble, took a 3-2 lead with just over a minute remaining in the third period. They had no answer for David Pastrnak, however, who tied the game just moments later with his third goal of the contest. Pasta then set up the winner in overtime, springing David Krejci on a breakaway for the winner.

Who's Hot
David Krejci - Despite some inconsistency from his wingers (what else is new?), Krejci has been excellent so far this year. He's already scored six goals and has 10 points in the team's 12 games. It will be interesting to see if Krejci tests free agency at the end of this year for the first time in his career, or if he'll look for an extension with the team.

Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy is getting a lot of the attention right now, and for good reason - but how about his partner? Although not directly replacing Zdeno Chara, Lauzon is taking over his role alongside McAvoy, and so far he's been terrific. He's averaging 24:01 minutes per game, leads the team with 27 hits, is a ridiculous +16, and has contributed a goal and six assists.

Anders Bjork - An outstanding performance against Montreal means Bjork will remain on the second line for the time being. The question now is whether or not he can find some consistency in his game? If he can, he'll likely be in the top-six for the rest of the season.

Who's Not
Ondrej Kase - Kase has yet to score a goal as a Boston Bruin. It doesn't help that the minute he was replaced on the second line, it exploded for three goals. With the team winning on a consistent basis, it may be a while before Kase finds himself back in the line-up, as Trent Frederic is a far better fit on the fourth line.

Jaroslav Halak - Halak wasn't terrible by any means, but he wasn't great either. He'd likely want to have the overtime goal in the Senators loss back, and he has just an .887 save percentage in five games so far this season.

Charlie Coyle - Again, we are nitpicking a little here, but it was a quiet stretch of games for Coyle as he added just one assist. Coyle only has five points on the year and is a -3, but perhaps more concerning is the fact that he's averaging just 14:09 minutes per game. Bruce Cassidy will likely try to get his big center move involved in the coming weeks.

Providence Report
5-7-0, 35 goals for, 39 goals against
- Not a great stretch for Providence as their defense continues to let them down, along with some spotty goaltending. The big club would like to see more from Vladar moving forward.
- Jakub Lauko 7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points
- Jack Studnicka 5 assists, 5 points
- Karson Kuhlman 5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points
- Dan Vladar 5-7-0, 3.23, .885%


It took eight games, but Craig Smith finally scores his first goal as a Bruin, beating new Canucks' goaltender Braden Holtby.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

B's come up short in two big tests but remain in first in the Atlantic Division (November 2nd - November 15th)


Bruins' captain Patrice Bergeron comes to the defense of his teammate Brad Marchand after a questionable hit from Ryan Reaves. Although Bergeron basically just held on for dear life, it was a gesture that the team no doubt appreciated and respected.

Results
WIN 3-1 @ Nashville Predators
WIN 4-3 vs Dallas Stars
WIN 5-2 vs Vancouver Canucks
LOSE 5-2 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
LOSE 4-2 vs Vegas Golden Knights
WIN 5-2 @ Colorado Avalanche
Record: 4-2-0 (Overall - 12-3-3, 27 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 5-2 loss vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins
Nov 10, 2020 1 2 3 F TOR (9-5-2) 0 3 2 5 BOS (11-1-3) 0 1 1 2 Three Stars I. Mikheyev 1 G, 2 A B. Marchand 2 G Z. Hyman 1 G, 1 A	Team Stats Comparison TOR BOS Shots on Goal 23 28 Hits 13 21 Faceoffs Won-Lost 16 17 Penalty Minutes 9:00 9:00 Power Plays Converted 0 1 Power Play Opportunities 2 2 Time on Attack 5:06 5:40
Scoring Summary SECOND PERIOD BOS 1:02 B. Marchand (11) (P. Bergeron, D. Krejci) TOR 5:00 J. Tavares (8) (I. Mikheyev, M. Marner) TOR 8:28 J. Thornton (5) (J. Vesey, T. Dermott) TOR 18:27 Z. Hyman (6) (I. Mikheyev, J. Muzzin) THIRD PERIOD BOS 0:37 B. Marchand (12) (P. Bergeron, D. Pastrnak) TOR 15:23 I. Mikheyev (9) (Unassisted) TOR 18:51 W. Nylander (7) (Z. Hyman, A. Matthews)

The standings fluctuate so much over the course of the first month of the year, and it can be foolish to make bold claims about teams before they've even reached the quarter pole of the season.

But this much is certain - the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights will make some noise in the playoffs this year. And the Boston Bruins came up short against both of them on back-to-back nights.

It started with Toronto. After scoreless first period, Brad Marchand gave the B's an early 1-0 lead in the second. Things soon fell apart after that, however, as the Leafs were able to get three past Jaroslav Halak before the end of the period to give them a solid two-goal lead heading into the final frame.

Another early goal by Marchand seemed to give the Bruins some life, but they failed to capitalize on a few chances before the Leafs added two more to give them the victory.

These teams will meet again, in Toronto, in just over a week.


A brief injury scare against the Golden Knights aside, Brad Marchand was terrific during this six-game stretch, finding the back of the net six times.

Other Notes...
- It was an impressive start to the week for the Bruins, who collectively preached the need to improve the team's defensive structure. It worked against the Predators who, despite totalling 35 shots on net, failed to generate many scoring chances and were only able to get one past Tuukka Rask. Trent Frederic scored his first career goal in the victory.

- An outstanding special teams performance by Boston helped them squeak out a 4-3 victory against last year's Stanley Cup finalists. The Bruins scored two power play goals, killed two penalties and added a shorthanded goal in the win.

- Like Edmonton, Vancouver is probably glad to be done with Boston for the year. After losing their first matchup 3-2, the Canucks were thoroughly outplayed in Boston as five different Bruins scored to give the B's a solid 5-2 victory.

- Following a frustrating loss to the Maple Leafs, the B's came out flat against the Vegas Golden Knights - arguably the best team in the Western Conference. And before they knew it, they were down 3-0. Although Craig Smith and Anders Bjork would score to cut the lead to 3-2, the Golden Knights would add a late tally to take home the win and give the B's consecutive regulation losses for the first time this year.

- A tough matchup to end the week in Denver, but coming off back-to-back losses, the Bruins found some urgency in their game against the Avalanche, and it showed. The team scored three goals in the first 10 minutes, two of which came on the power play, and cruised to a relatively routine 5-2 victory over one of the better teams in the league. Chris Wagner did leave the game with an injury, however, and will be replaced by Ondrej Kase for the time being.

Who's Hot
Charlie Coyle - After we called him out last time, Coyle responded with his best stretch of the year, picking up three goals and three assists. He seems to have found some chemistry with Craig Smith - will he be able to do the same with Kase, who will jump up alongside him while replacing the injured Wagner?

Brad Marchand - A huge scare against the Golden Knights when Marchand took a high hit from Ryan Reaves and didn't return, but luckily he was completely fine. He had an outstanding stretch of games, finding the back of the net six times, and now leads the team in goals with 13.

Power play - After starting the year 1-13, good for last in the league, the Bruins have been on a tear with the man advantage. In fact, they are now second in the league with a 32.4% success rate, thanks to a ridiculous 10-21 stretch.

Who's Not
Goaltending - While neither Halak nor Rask have been terrible, they also haven't been great. Rask, a notorious slow starter, currently sports a .907 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average while Halak sits at an .882 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average. The Bruins need both guys to be a bit better.

Brandon Carlo - Carlo had a rough weekend against the Leafs and Golden Knights, as he was frequently pinned in his own end alongside Matt Grzlcyk. Carlo hasn't been terrible, but he was a -3 in those two games and sits at -4 on the year.


Providence Report (6-10-0, 43 GF, 48 GA)
- Providence continues to struggle to keep the puck out of their net, although the team has to like what they've seen from Jakub Lauko so far this year. John Moore has also been playing great hockey and may be improving his trade value.
- Jakub Lauko 9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points
- Jack Studnicka 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points
- Karson Kuhlman 6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points
- John Moore 1 goal, 9 assists, 10 points
- Zach Senyshyn 5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points
- Dan Vladar 6-10-0, 2.91, .895%


Playing alongside two youngsters in Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork seems to have boosted David Krejci's game, as he scores here against the Canucks - his seventh goal of the year.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Perfection Line keeps dominating as the Bruins continue to fill the back of the net (November 16th - November 29th)


David Pastrnak scores his second goal of the game (and 16th of the season) against the Habs, which would ultimately serve as the game winner.

Results
LOSE 4-3 (OT) @ Dallas Stars
WIN 3-1 @ Arizona Coyotes
WIN 8-4 @ Detroit Red Wings
WIN 4-1 vs Pittsburgh Penguins
WIN 4-3 @ Montreal Canadiens
LOSE 4-3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
WIN 4-1 vs New York Islanders
Record: 5-1-1 (Overall - 17-4-4, 38 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 4-3 win at Montreal Canadiens

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens
Nov 24, 2020 1 2 3 F BOS (15-3-4) 2 2 0 4 MON (14-5-4) 1 1 1 3 Three Stars D. Pastrnak 2 G, 1 A N. Suzuki 2 G P. Bergeron 1 G, 1 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS MON Shots on Goal 26 19 Hits 23 11 Faceoffs Won-Lost 18 14 Penalty Minutes 8:00 0:00 Power Plays Converted 0 1 Power Play Opportunities 0 4 Time on Attack 5:27 5:25
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD BOS 0:36 P. Bergeron (17) (D. Pastrnak, B. Marchand) MON 7:43 S. Weber (2) (J. Arnia, J. Drouin) BOS 12:31 J. Zboril (1) (K. Miller) SECOND PERIOD BOS 2:23 D. Pastrnak (15) (B. Marchand, J. Lauzon) MON 3:30 N. Suzuki (4) (T. Tatar) BOS 10:25 D. Pastrnak (16) (B. Marchand, P. Bergeron) THIRD PERIOD MON 13:14 N. Suzuki (5) (T. Tatar)

It's been nearly seven years since the Bruins and Canadiens met in the playoffs, and it's still far too early to make predictions. But how good would a series between these two teams be in 2021? If this game was any indication, it would be outstanding.

The Habs, sporting their blue reverse retro jerseys, were outplayed by the Bruins for most of the game, but hung around thanks in large part to having four power play attempts and converting on one of them.

For the Bruins, it was the Perfection Line - again. Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand combined for three goals and eight points in the victory as the repeatedly kept the Canadiens pinned in their own end.

They weren't the only players who scored, however. Jakub Zboril, who had just two games of NHL experience before this season, recorded his first career goal in the first period. It wasn't pretty - a harmless shot from the point that deflected off Shea Weber and completely changed direction to beat Jake Allen - but still a memorable experience for the youngster, who has played very well so far this season.


Teammates mob Jakub Zboril after he scores his first career goal.

Other Notes...
- Tough start to the week with a loss in overtime against the Stars. The Bruins rallied back from deficits three times in the game but couldn't punch in the go ahead goal, although they do steal a point.

- The Arizona Coyotes don't pack a very big punch offensively, and they gave a relatively lifeless effort on home ice against the Bruins who cruised to a 3-1 victory. The second line led the way for Boston, with Anders Bjork and Jake DeBrusk both scoring on feeds from David Krejci.

- For the second time this year, the Bruins scored eight goals against an opponent - this time, the hapless Red Wings, who may be the worst team in the league. Chris Wagner returned to the lineup after missing two games due to injury, and scored twice. The Perfection Line totalled 11 points, while Charlie McAvoy found the back of the net for his first goal of the year.

- More secondary scoring led the way for the B's against the Penguins, as Nick Ritchie, Craig Smith, and Jeremy Lauzon all scored en route to a routine 4-1 victory. The Penguins, once a powerhouse, look like their better days may be in the rearview mirror.

- The Maple Leafs continue to be a thorn in the side of the Bruins. After a frustrating 5-2 loss to Toronto last week, the B's found themselves down 3-0 midway through the second period. This time, however, they rallied, thanks again to the trio of Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak. All three scored goals to tie the game at three, but it was the Leafs who got the last laugh with a late goal in the third. We NEED to see a playoff matchup between these two powerhouses.

- Unlike their last loss to the Leafs, where they failed to show up against a very good Golden Knights team, this time the B's responded with an impressive 4-1 win over the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak played, perhaps, his best game of the year, stopping 34 of 35 shots in the victory.

Who's Hot
Perfection Line - What else is there to say? The line continues to dominate the league. They've combined to score 51 goals in just 25 games, and are a combined +93. They routinely pin teams in their own ends for extended periods of time. As good as this line has been in the past, this may be the best we've ever seen it perform.

Jakub Zboril - Apart from scoring his first career goal, Zboril has been very steady on the backend during his first NHL season. Although he isn't being asked to do much (averaging just 12:48 of ice-time per game), Zboril has played mistake free hokey. He has three points and is a solid +6 so far.

Who's Not
Matt Grzelcyk/Brandon Carlo - On paper this should be an excellent defensive pairing - but so far this hasn't been the case. Both Grz and Carlo had a tough stretch of games this week, and are both -7 on the year. Grzelcyk, hoping to replace some of the departed Torey Krug's offense, has failed to score. It may be time for Bruce Cassidy to mix things up on the backend unless this pair can figure it out.


Providence Report (6-15-1, 52 GF, 64 GA)
- Horrible stretch for Providence, as they go 0-5-1 and drop to second last in their division. While Vladar hasn't been horrible, the team has struggled to score goals. Urho Vaakanainen looks lost with a brutal -9 rating, although Lauko continues to impress and is somehow +10 on a team that has scored 12 fewer goals than they've allowed.
- Jakub Lauko 10 goals, 8 assists, 18 points
- Jack Studnicka 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points
- Karson Kuhlman 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points
- Urho Vaakanainen 0 goals, 9 assists, 9 points
- Dan Vladar 6-15-1, 2.79, .896%


Although the Bruins rallied from a 3-0 deficit against the Maple Leafs, they ultimately lost 4-3 and are now 0-2 against Toronto this season.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins Spotlight: Perfection Line


No team in the league so far this season has had an answer for the Bruins' first line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak.

*every so often I plan on running a spotlight on a certain aspect of the B's organization - players, lines, prospects, etc...*

The national media love to refer to the trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak as the Perfection Line, much to chagrin of the Bruins' faithful. In fact, in Boston, fans and analysts have been wondering for years now whether this line should even be together. While there's no line in the league that performs better, it makes the Bruins' lineup too top heavy - something that has been a problem in recent playoff disappointments.

Even those critics have gone silent this season. The simple truth is - the Perfection Line is terrorizing the league so far in 2020.

The Bruins have scored exactly 100 goals this season - an average of 4.00 per game. It's one of the main reasons why they currently sit at 17-4-4, tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Perfection Line has combined to score more than half of those goals.

That's right - Bergeron has 18, Pastrnak 17, and Marchand 16, which makes them responsible for 51 of the team's 100 goals this year. What's more ridiculous - the Bruins have scored 15 times this year where all three players recorded a point. Again - that means some combination of a goal and two assists from this line for 15% of the team's goals this season.

Here are some more stats that you simply have to see to believe:

• Patrice Bergeron - 18 goals, 23 assists, 41 points, +31, 5 game-winning goals, 62% FO, 21:56 TOI
• Brad Marchand - 16 goals, 23 assists, 38 points, +30, 50 hits, 21:38 TOI
• David Pastrnak - 17 goals, 23 assists, 39 points, +32, 100 shots, 19:49 TOI

Maybe the team should have given Bergeron the 'C' years ago, because he's currently scoring at a pace he hasn't seen since junior hockey. He's also been unbelievable defensively this year, as evident by his 62% in the face off circle and +31 rating. Both Marchand and Pastrnak have successfully recovered from offseason surgery and are doing what they do best - Marchand as a pest and Pastrnak as a sniper.

So how does this line compare to some of the best lines in NHL history? Let's have a brief look.

The Skyline - Pittsburgh Penguins (1992/1993)
What do you get when you add Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr? Domination. Throw in a little Kevin Stevens and you get one of the most powerful lines in hockey. The Skyline terrorized the league in 1992, combining for 158 goals and 365 points. Lemieux was responsible for 160 of those points in just 60 games.

The Trio Grande - New York Islanders (1978/1979)
This line was perhaps the main reason why the Islanders were able to win four Stanley Cups in a row in the 80s - but we went with the year where they came up just short. Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Clark Gillies were all under 25 but that didn't stop them from lighting up the scoreboard. The trio combined for 151 goals - 69 of which from the deadly sniper Bossy - and 351 points.


It's hard to find a more dangerous line in NHL history than Wayne Gretzky in between the two Finns - Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen.

The Legion of Doom - Philadelphia Flyers (1996/1997)
Perhaps the main reason why the Flyers nearly won the Cup in 1997, Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Mikael Renberg were nearly impossible to handle for defenders - even with the clutching and grabbing of the late 90s. They combined to score 104 goals (and for 259 penalty minutes) as Lindros fed LeClair for goal after goal after goal.

The Finnish Sandwich - Edmonton Oilers (1986/1987
Wayne Gretzky could make this list as just himself - but add in two Finns and it's easy to see how the Oilers dominated the league in the late 80s. Gretzky scored 62 goals and reached 183 points by himself in the 86/87 season, which resulted in another Stanley Cup win for Edmonton. He played between Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen, who chipped in with a combined 88 goals and 186 points themselves.

It's unlikely, in fact nearly impossible, that the Bruins top line will reach some of these point totals, considering how the game has changed. Granted, if they continue to score at this ridiculous rate, the Bruins' Perfection Line may go down as one of the best in NHL history, if it isn't there already.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins finally beat Toronto, push win streak to seven games (November 30th - December 13th)


The combination of the Bruins' offense and the strong play from Tuukka Rask has moved them into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Results
WIN 3-0 vs Detroit Red Wings
WIN 6-2 @ Florida Panthers
WIN 3-0 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
WIN 5-1 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
WIN 3-2 @ Ottawa Senators
WIN 3-1 vs Arizona Coyotes
Record: 6-0-0 (Overall - 23-4-4, 50 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 3-0 win at Tampa Bay Lightning

Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 6, 2020 1 2 3 F BOS (19-4-4) 1 1 1 3 TAM (12-13-4) 0 0 0 0 Three Stars T. Rask 24 Saves P. Bergeron 2 G B. Marchand 1 G, 1 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS TAM Shots on Goal 27 24 Hits 27 17 Faceoffs Won-Lost 18 13 Penalty Minutes 6:00 2:00 Power Plays Converted 1 0 Power Play Opportunities 1 3 Time on Attack 4:20 6:04
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD BOS 19:58 B. Marchand (18) (B. Carlo, D. Pastrnak) SECOND PERIOD BOS 7:43 P. Bergeron (22) (B. Carlo, C. Coyle) THIRD PERIOD BOS 15:58 P. Bergeron (23) (PP) (B. Marchand)

Call it a Stanley Cup hangover if you want, but the Lightning have not been themselves so far in 2020. They entered the game against the Bruins with a 12-13-4 record, and if the season ended today, would find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Luckily for the Lightning, the season doesn't end today, and they had a chance to prove they were still the team to beat in a showdown with the first place Bruins.

It did not go well for the Lightning.

The Bruins played one of their best defensive games of the season, limiting Tampa to just 24 shots on goal - and only 14 of these at even strength (the Lightning went 0-3 on the power play).

Meanwhile, the Perfection Line continued to dominate, something they couldn't quite do in last year's matchup with the Lightning in the bubble. Patrice Bergeron scored two more goals to continue his ridiculous scoring season, while Brad Marchand added a goal and an assist in the victory.

It was the first shutout of the year for Tuukka Rask and the second shutout for the B's in the last three games as they complete the Florida sweep after defeating Florida 6-2 two nights earlier.


With both teams sporting the reverse retro jerseys, it was the Bruins who came out on top, thanks to two goals from Anders Bjork.

Other Notes...
- Bruce Cassidy has stated repeatedly that while he loves the goals the Bruins are scoring, they need to find a way to be more consistent defensively. They've certainly done that during this seven-game win streak, and it started with a 3-0 win against the Red Wings. Jaroslav Halak barely broke a sweat in the victory, stopping all 23 shots while the Bruins' top line again dominated, combining for six points.

- The Panthers tend to give the Bruins problems, but that wasn't the case down in Florida as Boston took it to them, both physically and on the scoreboard. Ondrej Kase finally found the back of the net - his first goal as a Bruin - and liked it so much he added a second in the third period.

- Perhaps the most anticipated game of the year to this point, the Maple Leafs came to the Garden tied for the Bruins for first place - and having beaten them twice already this year. The B's were certainly up for this one, however, as they rolled all four lines in one of their most impressive victories of the year. The third line, led by Charlie Coyle, was particularly effective, scoring four goals in the 5-1 victory.

- The B's were able to get more revenge on a team that has already beaten them twice season as they took down the Senators in a relatively dull affair. The teams only combined for 38 shots on goal, but David Pastrnak was responsible for the most important one was he broke a 2-2 tie in the third period with his 19th goal of the year.

- Another solid defensive performance against Arizona. The Coyotes fired 27 shots on net but didn't find many high quality scoring chances or rebound opportunities. Anders Bjork, who has played well enough to remain on the second line so far, scored twice in the win. (Note - before this game I moved the difficulty up to Superstar. The Bruins are definitely good but not this good, so hopefully the record starts to balance out a little bit)

Who's Hot
Tuukka Rask - Rask is a notorious slow starter, but he's seemed to have found his groove. After a poor performance against the Maple Leafs, in which he allowed four goals on just 18 shots, Rask has won four straight starts and allowed just four goals during that span. He's now 15-3-1 on the year, with a 2.26 goals against average and .917 save percentage.

Charlie Coyle - If the Bruins are going to win the Stanley Cup, they are going to need their depth players to perform. Coyle has done just that so far this year after a bit of a slow start. He has seven points in his last six games, and has 21 points on the season. He's also helped shore up the Bruins' penalty kill after replacing Chris Wagner on the second unit.

Ondrej Kase - Things were trending down for Kase when he was replaced in the lineup by Trent Frederic, but an injury to Chris Wagner gave him another chance and he's taken advantage of it. Kase seems to have found some chemistry on the third line with Coyle and Craig Smith, and finally scored his first goal as a Boston Bruin. While he only has eight points on the year, he's certainly playing a much more well-rounded game.

Who's Not
No one! - The B's are 23-4-4, are on a seven-game win streak, have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and are just two points behind Vegas for the best record in the league. Hard to complain about that!

Providence Report (10-16-2, 66 GF, 75 GA)
- After some tweaks to the line combinations, Providence went on a bit of a run with four wins in six games. Similar to Rask, Dan Vladar seems to have found his groove, although the team is still struggling to score goals on a consistent basis. It doesn't help that they'll be without Lauko for the next few weeks after he suffered a concussion.
- Jakub Lauko 11 goals, 8 assists, 19 points
- Jack Studnicka 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points
- Karson Kuhlman 8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points
- John Moore 1 goal, 13 assists, 14 points
- Dan Vladar 10-16-2, 2.57, .905%


Patrice Bergeron has never scored 40 goals in his career - he has a realistic shot to reach 50 this year, should he continue at this absurd pace.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

B's win streak snapped at 10, but team continues to dominate the rest of the league (December 14th - December 27th)


The Habs and Bruins have played two terrific hockey games so far this year, and a playoff matchup between these two teams would be outstanding.

Results
WIN 6-0 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
WIN 3-2 (SO) vs Buffalo Sabres
WIN 5-3 @ Montreal Canadiens
LOSE 5-2 vs Anaheim Ducks
WIN 4-1 vs Nashville Predators
WIN 4-3 @ Carolina Hurricanes
WIN 3-2 vs New Jersey Devils
Record: 6-1-0 (Overall - 29-5-4, 62 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 5-3 win vs Montreal Canadiens

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens
Dec 17, 2020 1 2 3 F BOS (25-4-4) 1 1 3 5 MON (22-7-4) 1 0 2 3 Three Stars D. Pastrnak 3 G, 1 A T. Tatar 1 G J. Anderson 1 G	Team Stats Comparison BOS MON Shots on Goal 39 26 Hits 23 17 Faceoffs Won-Lost 18 18 Penalty Minutes 2:00 16:00 Power Plays Converted 3 1 Power Play Opportunities 8 1 Time on Attack 7:19 4:52
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD MON 7:14 T. Tatar (9) (J. Kotkaniemi, J. Armia) BOS 11:42 D. Pastrnak (22) (PP) (Unassisted) SECOND PERIOD BOS 10:55 D. Pastrnak (23) (PP) (D. Krejci, N. Ritchie) THIRD PERIOD MON 4:44 M. Frolik (6) (PP) (Unassisted) MON 8:06 J. Anderson (4) (Unassisted) BOS 11:16 D. Pastrnak (24) (B. Carlo, M. Grzelcyk) BOS 16:20 B. Marchand (22) (PP) (N. Ritchie, D. Pastrnak) BOS 19:42 P. Bergeron (27) (EN) (C. McAvoy, J. Lauzon)

We need a Bruins-Habs playoff matchup. After a great game a few weeks ago in Montreal, which the Bruins pulled out 4-3, they met again at the Bell Center and again it was great hockey.

In their first matchup, it was the Bruins who struggled to stay out of the penalty box. This time it was the Canadiens - and it pretty much cost them the game. The Habs took EIGHT minor penalties and the Bruins' power play capitalized for three goals, two of which came in 5-on-3 situations.

David Pastrnak is difficult to handle at even strength - he's impossible to handle down two men. Pasta scored two power play goals in the win, fired 11 shots on goal, and notched the hat trick in the third period to tie the game at three. He also added an assist on Brad Marchand's go-ahead goal with just over three minutes remaining - which, once again, came on the power play.


The Pittsburgh Penguins are a disaster, and it may be time to completely tear it down.

Other Notes...
- The Pittsburgh Penguins are a tire fire. They offered little to no resistance against the Bruins on home ice, generating just 20 shots in a 6-0 Boston victory. David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron both scored twice as Tuukka Rask cruised to his second shutout of the season.

- For 40 minutes, it looked like it was going to be the Buffalo Sabres who would end the Bruins' impressive win streak. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the Perfection Line had other ideas. Trailing 2-0 in the third, Patrice Bergeron got the Bruins to within one with his 26th goal of the year. Moments later, Brad Marchand tied the game. The teams traded chances in overtime but it would take a shootout to decide this one - and it was the Bruins' captain, again, who delivered the winning goal.

- TRANSACTION: Par Lindholm has elected to return to Sweden to play out his career. Lindholm played a decent amount for the Bruins last year, but hadn't appeared in a game yet this season. He will be replaced by Greg McKegg from Providence. McKegg was averaging 14:31 minutes per game and had scored seven goals in the AHL. He'll serve as the team's 14th forward for the foreseeable future.

- All good things come to an end, and such was the case with the Bruins' 10-game win streak against the Ducks. Granted, the Bruins had been trailing in the third period of their previous two games, so it did seem like the tide was turning. Jaroslav Halak struggled, allowing four goals, while John Gibson turned away the Bruins' top line throughout the game. After the game, the team announced that Charlie Coyle had suffered a sprained ankle and will likely be sidelined for 10 days. Trent Frederic will take his place as the third line center.

- The B's got back on track the following night against Nashville. Nick Ritchie scored twice while Rask turned away 25 shots to help secure the victory. Unfortunately, the B's were again hit by the injury bug, as they revealed after the game that Jakub Zboril sprained his MCL and will be out for at least a month. Conor Clifton will get his first action of the year in Zboril's absence.

- David Pastrnak's ridiculous season continued against the Hurricanes, as he recorded his second hat trick in the last four games. Carolina had no answer for the Bruins' top line, which combined to score all four goals and totalled eight points in the 4-3 victory.

- Following a small break for Christmas, the B's looked a little slow in their first game back against the Devils. Jaroslav Halak kept the team in the game, particularly after Jeremy Lauzon received a five-minute major for boarding, turning aside 38 of 40 shots to help Boston squeak out a 3-2 victory.

Who's Hot
David Pastrnak - What a ridiculous stretch of games for Pasta. He recorded two hat tricks and tallied 12 points, giving him 27 goals and 58 points in just 38 games so far this season.

Nick Ritchie - Ritchie received a lot of heat from Bruins' fans during the bubble last season, but Bruce Cassidy seems to have found the perfect role for him - power play specialist. Ritchie, playing on the fourth line in even-strength situations, is averaging just 13:03 time on ice per game - the second lowest among all Bruins' forwards. Despite this, he's fourth on the team in points with 28. Why? He's the net front presence on the B's top power play unit. 16 of Ritchie's points have come with the man advantage, which ties him with Patrice Bergeron for the team lead.

Tuukka Rask - Rask has certainly hit his stride. Tuukka went 4-0 during this stretch, improving his record on the year to 19-3-1. He has an outstanding 2.17 goals against average and .919 save percentage, and is getting more and more expensive by the day as he plays out the final year of his contract.

Who's Not
Penalty Kill - The B's penalty kill was a disaster against the Hurricanes, allowing three power play goals. Cassidy made several changes before the next game, including moving up Charlie McAvoy to the top unit and adding Craig Smith to the second unit, and it seemed to work - the B's killed all five power play opportunities against the Devils.

Injuries - It was only a matter of time. The B's had been incredibly lucky so far this season, with just Chris Wagner missing a few games to injury. They lost both Charlie Coyle and Jakub Zboril this week, however. Luckily, neither injury appears to be serious.

Providence Report (13-19-2, 77 GF, 84 GA)
- Providence continues to play mediocre hockey, again because they are struggling to consistently find the back of the net. While Lauko has returned to the lineup, his concussion certainly disrupted his progress. One bright spot? Dan Vladar has been terrific.
- Jakub Lauko 11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points
- Jack Studnicka 4 goals, 13 assists, 17 points
- Karson Kuhlman 9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points
- Urho Vaakanainen 2 goals, 13 assists, 15 points
- Dan Vladar 13-19-2, 2.38, .911%


It had to feel good as a Bruins' fan watching David Pastrnak blow by Dougie Hamilton to score his third goal of the game, and notch his second hat trick of the week.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Goal scoring dries up as Bruins bring in the new year with a whimper (December 28th - January 10th)


David Pastrnak scores the overtime winner against the Sabres in their first matchup.

Results
WIN 3-2 (OT) @ Buffalo Sabres
WIN 5-4 (OT) @ Chicago Blackhawks
LOSE 6-2 vs Calgary Flames
LOSE 2-1 (OT) vs Buffalo Sabres
LOSE 2-1 (SO) vs Minnesota Wild
LOSE 4-1 vs Washington Capitals
Record: 2-2-2 (Overall - 31-7-6, 68 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 2-1 (OT) loss vs Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
Jan 5, 2021 1 2 3 OT F BUF (21-13-7) 1 0 0 1 2 BOS (31-6-4) 0 0 1 0 1 Three Stars C. Hutton 29 Saves T. Rask 30 Saves E. Staal 2 A	Team Stats Comparison BUF BOS Shots on Goal 32 30 Hits 18 19 Faceoffs Won-Lost 15 16 Penalty Minutes 11:00 11:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 3 3 Time on Attack 5:46 6:09
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD BUF 14:31 V. Olofsson (9) (T. Thompson, E. Staal) THIRD PERIOD BOS 19:28 B. Marchand (28) (D. Pastrnak, P. Bergeron) OVERTIME BUF 3:15 B. Montour (1) (T. Hall, E. Staal)

After the Bruins squeaked out a 3-2 win in overtime against the Sabres in Buffalo the day before New Year's Eve, the teams met again in Boston less than a week later with Buffalo coming out on top in the TD Garden.

Led by the outstanding goaltending of Carter Hutton, the Sabres were just 32 seconds away from becoming the first team to shutout the Bruins this season. Alas, it was not to be, as the Perfection Line delivered once again. With the goalie pulled, Bergeron reversed the puck down low to David Pastrnak who hit a streaking Brad Marchand in front of the net for a beautiful one-timer, which Marchy ripped top shelf.

The Sabres would get the last laugh, however, as both teams traded chances in overtime but it was Brandon Montour who delivered the killing blow, ripping the puck past Tuukka Rask for his first of the season - and the game-winner.


Brad Marchand ties the game against the Sabres with just 32 seconds remaining, but it was Buffalo who got the last laugh in overtime.

Other Notes...
- It was a good start to the week, and end to the calendar year, for the Bruins, as they took down the Sabres 3-2 and the Blackhawks 5-4, both in overtime. Against Buffalo, it was David Pastrnak who went end to end in the extra frame, using his speed and the open ice to get in alone and score the winner. Against the Blackhawks, it was Sean Kuraly picking up his third goal of the year while killing a penalty.

- In two games against the Flames this season, the Bruins have allowed 11 goals. Naturally, they have lost both games. This was arguably their worst performance of the season. Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk looked lost, as both finished a poor -4, while Tuukka Rask was pulled after allowing 6 goals on just 21 shots. One bright spot? The return of Charlie Coyle, who missed five games with a sprained ankle.

- After a hard-fought loss to the Sabres, the team once again struggled to find the back of the net against the Wild - and again came up short in the extra frame, this time in the shootout. Charlie Coyle scored in just his second game back from injury, but the team couldn't generate anything on the power play (0-4) and suffered their third straight loss.

- When it rains it pours, as they say, and a brutal stretch of hockey for Boston continued against Washington The B's took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but surrendered four straight goals to the Caps - three of which came on the power play - and failed to score on any of their man-advantage opportunities. The B's have lost four games in a row for the first time this season - and have scored just five goals in those four games.

Who's Hot
Patrice Bergeron - Even when the B's struggle to score, the Perfection Line almost always delivers. We'll focus on the captain this week, as Bergeron reached the 30-goal plateau - a remarkable feat considering it's still January. Bergeron already has 67 points on the season, leads the league with a +45 rating, and has a 61.4% face-off win percentage - and may be the frontrunner for the Hart Trophy, as of right now.

Jeremy Lauzon - Lauzon has been outstanding so far this year. His solid presence defensively has freed up Charlie McAvoy, but he's also holding his own on the scoresheet with 18 points so far. Lauzon leads the team with 95 hits, and is averaging 23:25 time on ice per game - second to McAvoy for the team lead.

Who's Not
Charlie McAvoy - McAvoy was terrific against the Flames when the rest of the team failed to show up in a 6-2 loss. He was not terrific against the Capitals. McAvoy took three minor penalties in the third period - and the Capitals scored on all three. That's a tough look, no way around it.

Second Line - For the first time this season, the Bruins struggled to find the back of the net. And when this team struggles to score, everyone looks at the second line. The trio of David Krejci, Anders Bjork, and Jake DeBrusk has failed to find the back of the net in the past five games. Krejci does have 27 points this year, but 1/3 of them have come on the power play. Anders Bjork, after a hot start, has just 15 points. Look for Bruce Cassidy to make a few switches to help get the team out of this slump.

Providence Report (16-19-3, 84 GF, 89 GA)
- Great stretch for the mini-Bs, as they go 3-0-1 and allow just five goals during this four-game stretch. Jakub Lauko has found his game again after missing some time due to injury, and Dan Vladar continues to be exceptional between the pipes.
- Jakub Lauko 13 goals, 10 assists, 23 points
- Jack Studnicka 5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points
- Karson Kuhlman 9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points
- Dan Vladar 15-19-3, 2.29, .913%


Patrice Bergeron is making the case for the Hart Trophy this year, as he leads the B's with 30 goals and 37 assists in just 44 games so far this season.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins Spotlight: Potential Free Agents


Nick Ritchie's strong season may earn him some additional cash this off-season - but it may also mean a ticket out of Boston.

Last season, the Bruins let both Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug walk in free agency. They will have some more tough decisions to make this upcoming offseason, with long-time Bruins like David Krejci and Tuukka Rask available to test the market. Boston will also have to deal with several RFAs, including Brandon Carlo and Nick Ritchie.

Although it's early, we thought we'd take a look at the upcoming free agents, both restricted and unrestricted, and some predictions about what we think the B's will do moving forward.

Restricted Free Agents
Ondrej Kase (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points) - 25 years old/$2.60 million
- To say Kase has been a disappointment during his time in Boston is an understatement - even if it was part of the David Backes' salary dump trade. Still, he's just 25 years old - but he's also been put in the press box for the second time this year. The B's may be interested in bringing him back but it's hard to justify continuing to pay him over two million when he can barely crack the lineup.
Prediction - Traded in the offseason for a draft pick.

Brandon Carlo (0 goals, 10 assists, 10 points, 19:28 time on ice/game, -10) - 24 years old/$2.85 million
- It has been a bit of an up and down season for Carlo, who has struggled to find chemistry with Matt Grzelcyk. Still, Carlo is a pillar of this team and the B's would like him to be part of the second pairing for many years to come. He doesn't put up a ton of points, which should help keep his dollar amount down.
Prediction - Re-signed, ideally to a long-term extension - possibly mid-season

Nick Ritchie (10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points) - 25 years old/$1.50 million
- Playing on the top power play unit has been terrific for Nick Ritchie, who may set a career high in goals this year. It's also been beneficial for his finances, with some people suggesting that Ritchie may be in line for an extension in the four million dollar range. If that's the case - it won't be with Boston.
Prediction - Signed for short-term if under four; otherwise traded or potential hold-out.

Trent Frederic (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, 14 games) - 22 years old/$0.925 million
- Frederic has been solid in his limited time, mainly on the fourth line, and hasn't been afraid to throw his body around. He recently earned a look on the third line, replacing Ondrej Kase. The team would like to see more offensive production from Frederic moving forward.
Prediction - Re-signed on a bridge deal.

Unrestricted Free Agents
David Krejci (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points) - 34 years old/$7.25 million
- David Krejci has nearly played 1000 regular season games in his NHL career. Every single one has been with the Bruins. Although he doesn't produce as much as he once did, he's still a reliable player. Term is going to be important here. The B's would love to bring him back, but not at that price tag, and not for an extended period.
Prediction - Re-signed for a two year deal under five million.

Tuukka Rask (20-5-2, 2.37 GAA, .911 SV%) - 33 years old/$7.00 million
- Another really interesting decision coming up with Rask. You need goaltending to win in this league, and Rask is one of the best. He's also faced a ton of criticism, some of it unearned but some of it certainly earned. He's stated that he only wants to play in Boston - the price point will likely be the key here. It is Rask's last chance to cash in before he retires, and Boston may not be willing to write a cheque that big.
Prediction - Re-signed for a three year deal near his current price.

Kevan Miller (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, 14:55 time on ice/game, +7) - 33 years old/$1.25 million
- It's been an outstanding season for Miller after a major knee injury nearly ended his career. He's been reliable, consistent and healthy - and it's hard to ask for much more than that from a bottom pair defenseman. Miller may be able to notch a moderate sized contract, and he'll likely test free agency - but don't rule out a return to Boston.
Prediction - Signs as a free agent with a team offering him over three million per year.

Sean Kuraly (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points) - 27 years old/$1.30 million
- Kuraly is a fan favourite in Boston and seems to have a knack for scoring big goals. He also kills penalties and can move up to the third line if needed. This will come down to price - the Bruins want to get Trent Frederic into the lineup more consistently, and both Jack Studnicka and Jakub Lauko may be ready to play next season. There's only so many spots - and Kuraly may be the odd man out.
Prediction - Signs as a free agent with a team offering around two million per year.

Jaroslav Halak (11-2-4, 2.56 GAA, .907 SV%) - 35 years old/$2.25 million
- The decision on Halak likely depends on what happens with Rask. If Rask walks, Halak basically becomes a must sign, as Dan Vladar isn't ready to be a full time starter yet. If Rask resigns, however, the B's likely move on from Halak as it seems likely that Vladar will be on the roster next year.
Prediction - Signs as a free agent with a team offering around three million per year.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Lineup changes spark offense as B's snap losing streak (January 11th - January 24th)


Trent Frederic, back in the lineup, scores his second goal of the game against the Maple Leafs, which would stand as the game-winner.

Results
WIN 5-3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs
WIN 6-3 vs Montreal Canadiens
WIN 3-1 @ Philadelphia Flyers
WIN 5-4 vs St. Louis Blues
WIN 5-4 (SO) vs New York Rangers
Record: 5-0-0 (Overall - 36-7-6, 78 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 5-3 win at Toronto

Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs
Jan 12, 2021 1 2 3 F BOS (31-7-6) 1 0 4 5 TOR (29-9-5) 1 1 1 3 Three Stars C. Smith 1 G, 2 A T. Frederic 2 G M. Marner 2 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS TOR Shots on Goal 32 32 Hits 33 17 Faceoffs Won-Lost 16 15 Penalty Minutes 13:00 5:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 0 4 Time on Attack 6:34 6:48
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD TOR 14:29 A. Matthews (23) (M. Marner, R. Sandin) BOS 15:18 T. Frederic (2) (C. Smith, C. Coyle) SECOND PERIOD TOR 4:11 T. Brodie (4) (M. Marner, M. Rielly) THIRD PERIOD BOS 6:25 C. Smith (10) (D. Krejci, M. Grzelcyk) TOR 7:07 J. Thornton (8) (I. Mikheyev, D. Malgin) BOS 17:39 B. Carlo (1) (D. Krejci) BOS 18:00 T. Frederic (3) (C. Smith, C. Coyle) BOS 19:20 B. Marchand (29) (EN) (Unassisted)

Very little has gone wrong for the Bruins this year. Entering the game against the Leafs, they had the best record in the Eastern Conference at 31-7-6 and sat atop of the Atlantic Division, albeit with both Toronto and Montreal hot on their heels.

Still, four straight losses in which the B's scored just five goals prompted Bruce Cassidy to make some tweaks to his forward grouping. Ondrej Kase, who continues to struggle with consistency, finds himself once again in the press box. Trent Frederic takes his place on the third line. Nick Ritchie moves up to the second line beside David Krejci, while Anders Bjork drops down to the fourth line.

The result? A five-goal outburst against the Leafs to snap the losing streak.

Frederic got things going with his second of the year (and would add another goal in the third), but the B's actually found themselves trailing 3-2 with just over two minutes remaining. Staring down a fifth straight loss, the team rallied for three goals in just 1:41, sparked by Brandon Carlo's game-tying goal, his first of the year. Brad Marchand would add an empty netter to seal the victory.


David Pastrnak was unstoppable against the Habs, scoring three goals and adding two assists in the 6-3 win.

Other Notes...
- It was the secondary scoring that got the job done against the Leafs, but it was David Pastrnak who was unstoppable once again versus the Habs. Pasta scored three goals and added two assists in the 6-3 victory. Trent Frederic was a wrecking ball, leading the way with six hits, while Patrice Bergeron picked up three points. One negative? Anders Bjork somehow managed to finish -2 in just 4:58 minutes of ice time.

- Perhaps inspired by yet another David Pastrnak hat trick, Craig Smith decided to get in on the action with a three-goal performance of his own against the Flyers. Charlie Coyle tallied the primary assists on all three goals as the B's held down a potent Flyers' offense, limiting them to just one goal on only 22 shots.

- The Bruins filled the net in their final two matchups before their "bye week", taking down the Blues 5-4 in regulation and the Rangers 5-4 in a shootout. Brad Marchand was unstoppable, with four goals, while the Perfection Line combined for 12 points.

Who's Hot
Brad Marchand - Marchy was downright unstoppable against the Blues and Rangers, and now has 33 goals and 68 points on the season. He is well on his way to surpass his career high in goals (39 back in 2016-2017), and has all but guaranteed he will score 100 points for the second time in his career.

Craig Smith - An underrated signing in the offseason, Smith has been everything the Bruins could have hoped for. He's given stability to the third line alongside Charlie Coyle, and the line seems to have found its groove now that Trent Frederic is on the other wing. Smith scored a hat trick against the Flyers and has 14 goals on the year. He's also been a terrific penalty killer.

Trent Frederic - Frederic is proving he belongs in the lineup. He did a great job filling in for Charlie Coyle when he was injured, and seems to have found chemistry on that third line. Frederic has three goals, 22 hits, and two fights in just 208 minutes this season, which is to say that he's making things happen when he's out there.

Who's Not
Anders Bjork - A very rough game against the Habs along with a demotion to the fourth line for the struggling Bjork, who can't seem to find the consistency in his game to be a regular in the top six. Could he be trade bait at the deadline?

Jaroslav Halak - Only one start for Halak during this five-game stretch, but he wasn't exactly sharp in it to say the least. Halak allowed five goals to a Blues' team that doesn't have an outstanding offense by any means. Halak has a terrific 12-2-4 record this year, but both his 2.64 goals against average and .905% save percentage would be his highest and lowest as a Bruin.

Providence Report (21-20-4, 100 GF, 103 GA)
- The baby B's seem to have found something as their strong play continued during this stretch of games, picking up five wins in seven games. The team continue to gets balanced scoring - although they aren't exactly filling the back of the net - and excellent goaltending from Dan Vladar, who is making his case that he should be on the roster next year.
- Jakub Lauko 14 goals, 11 assists, 25 points
- Jack Studnicka 5 goals, 16 assists, 21 points
- Zach Senyshyn 8 goals, 15 assists, 23 points
- Dan Vladar 20-20-4, 2.24, .913%


Craig Smith has quietly had a very strong season on the third line, and notched his second career hat-trick against the Flyers.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins Spotlight: Bye Week Check-in


Brandon Carlo, who's thrown down a handful of times this season, has struggled with a -8 rating.

As the Bruins enter their "bye week", it's a perfect time to check in with the team and hand out some "awards" while also pondering some questions for their immediate future.

Boston Bruins Stats - 2021
Skaters	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	GW	PIM	SOG	SPCT
P. Bergeron	49	32	42	74	45	6	16	163	19.6%
D. Pastrnak	49	31	40	71	47	2	16	204	15.2%
B. Marchand	49	33	35	68	47	4	18	167	19.8%
D. Krejci	49	9	25	34	7	1	2	88	10.2%
N. Ritchie	49	12	21	33	5	1	13	72	16.7%
C. Coyle	46	9	20	29	6	5	6	99	9.1%
C. McAvoy	49	3	26	29	45	0	41	135	2.2%
C. Smith	49	14	13	27	5	1	23	115	12.2%
J. DeBrusk	49	13	13	26	-4	6	18	91	14.3%
J. Lauzon	49	2	16	18	40	1	27	32	6.3%
A. Bjork	49	7	8	15	-3	3	12	66	10.6%
M. Grzelcyk	49	1	13	14	-9	0	11	49	2.0%
B. Carlo	49	1	11	12	-8	0	41	34	2.9%
O. Kase	36	4	6	10	5	0	2	46	8.7%
S. Kuraly	49	4	6	10	-4	2	25	45	8.9%
C. Wagner	47	5	2	7	-10	0	10	38	13.2%
K. Miller	49	1	6	7	11	0	28	25	4.0%
J. Zboril	36	1	4	5	11	0	6	18	5.6%
T. Frederic	19	3	1	4	4	0	15	22	13.6%
C. Clifton	13	0	0	0	4	0	2	6	0.0%
Goalies	GP	W	L	T	GAA	TOI	SV	SV%	SHO
T. Rask	31	24	5	2	2.42		746	.908	2
J. Halak	19	12	2	4	2.64		469	.905	1

MVP - Patrice Bergeron. The new captain of the B's has brought it this year, to say the least. Bergy has tied a career-high in goals with 32 - and he still has over 30 games to play. He's just six points away from reaching 80 points for the first time in his career. He has a real opportunity to win the Hart Trophy for the first time in his career.

Biggest Surprise - Jeremy Lauzon. Paired with Charlie McAvoy in Zdeno Chara's old position, Lauzon has been terrific. He's a ridiculous +40 (thanks in large part to being on the ice with the Perfection Line), but he also leads the team in hits and is playing the second most minutes on the team. His strong skating and defensive play has also freed up McAvoy to be more offensive

Biggest Disappointment - Anders Bjork. There aren't many disappointments on a team that currently leads the NHL in points, but if we had to pick, it would be Bjork. When he was promoted to play alongside David Krejci, it seemed like it was the break he needed to secure a position in the top six. He couldn't do it, and now finds himself on the fourth line. A -3 rating and just 66 shots in 49 games isn't going to cut it on this team.

Biggest Concern - Brandon Carlo-Matt Grzelcyk. This pair looked great on paper - but it hasn't worked. Carlo is -8, even more shocking when you consider that he's never been a minus player in his career, and Grzelcyk is a -9. The return of Jakub Zboril has allowed Bruce Cassidy to tinker, as the team will explore a Zboril-Carlo and Grzelcyk-Miller pairing for the foreseeable future.

Lingering Questions

1) What will the Bruins do at the deadline?
- If the Bruins are serious about winning a Stanley Cup this year (and they should be), they need to upgrade the defense. The scoring is there, Rask is solid, and the defense is good - but it may not be good enough. Adding a left-handed defenseman - and there are a few good ones available - could be the difference in pushing this team over the threshold.

2) Do they have enough secondary scoring?
- The Bruins have scored 185 goals this season. The Perfection Line is responsible for 96 of them. That's nearly 52% of the team's goals from just three players. So far, no team in the league has been able to stop them consistently - but in a playoff series, if this line slows down, do the B's have enough secondary scoring to still get the job done? Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle, and Trent Frederic look like a great third line - but could the team be in the market for a winger to give David Krejci some more consistent help?

3) Can they hold off Toronto (34-10-5, 73 points - 5 points back) and Montreal (33-13-5, 71 points - 7 points back)
- The Boston Bruins are first in the NHL. Unfortunately for them, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are second and fourth respectively. As if the league needed another reason to change this ridiculous playoff format, it's a tough look when three of the top four teams in the NHL could be eliminated by the Conference Finals because they have to play each other.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

B's struggle to find their groove after lengthy time off (January 25th - February 7th)


Despite opening the scoring in the first against the Jets, the Bruins looked flat and rusty after their bye-week and ultimately fell, 5-2.

Results
LOSE 5-2 vs Winnipeg Jets
WIN 3-1 vs Philadelphia Flyers
LOSE 3-2 @ Washington Capitals
LOSE 4-1 vs New York Islanders
WIN 5-2 @ New York Rangers
Record: 2-3-0 (Overall - 38-10-6, 82 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 3-2 loss at Washington

Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals
Feb 3, 2021 1 2 3 F BOS (37-8-6) 2 0 0 2 WAS (28-21-2) 2 1 0 3 Three Stars T. Oshie 2 G, 1 A C. Sheary 1 G, 2 A N. Backstrom 2 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS WAS Shots on Goal 26 19 Hits 23 14 Faceoffs Won-Lost 11 18 Penalty Minutes 2:00 2:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 1 1 Time on Attack 6:11 4:44
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD WAS 6:20 C. Sheary (9) (E. Kuznetsov, T. Oshie) BOS 7:23 O. Kase (5) (M. Grzelcyk, T. Frederic) BOS 11:16 C. Coyle (10) (T. Frederic) WAS 11:39 T. Oshie (8) (C. Sheary, N. Backstrom) SECOND PERIOD WAS 16:51 T. Oshie (9) (C. Sheary, N. Backstrom)

For the first time since their return from the bye-week, the Bruins actually looked like themselves. They outplayed the Capitals, for the most part, outshooting them 26-19, outhitting them 23-14, and held a significant advantage in time on attack.

That didn't matter on the scoreboard.

A wild first period saw the Capitals jump out to a 1-0 lead before the Bruins tied it just over a minute later, and then the Bruins take a 2-1 lead before Capitals tied it once again just 23 seconds after that.

That was pretty much it for excitement in this one, however, as the B's still struggled to generate a consistent offensive attack. A late second period goal by TJ Oshie - his second of the night - would stand as the game-winner.

One big problem for the Bruins in this one was possessing the puck after a face-off. Boston had one of it's worst face-off performances of the year, with Patrice Bergeron winning just 3 of his 10 attempts and Charlie Coyle winning just one draw all night.


Given another chance to get into the lineup because of an injury to Craig Smith, Kase scored a goal and added two assists.

Other Notes...
- A week lay off while you are playing some of your best hockey of the year certainly did not benefit the Bruins. They looked flat and rusty against the Jets, and were outshot 37-18 in the 5-2 loss. The game was actually tied at one entering the third period until the Jets exploded for four goals. The second line of David Krejci, Nick Ritchie, and Jake DeBrusk finished a combined -10.

- Although the B's got the result on the scoreboard against Philadelphia, it was only because of Tuukka Rask. The Flyers outshot Boston 46-16 (that's a combined 84-34 in two games for those keep tracking) and dominated them for the majority of the game, but couldn't find a way to beat Tuukka.

- Injury update - Craig Smith suffered a pulled groin against the Flyers and will miss 1-2 weeks. Ondrej Kase returns to the lineup to take his spot at right wing on the third line.

- Another lacklustre performance against the Islanders resulted in a 4-1 defeat. The B's spent the majority of the night in the penalty box, taking six minors, and although they finished the night perfect on the penalty kill, it prevented them from generating any sort of consistent offense. Perhaps worn down by the games earlier in the week, Rask struggled in this one, allowing four goals on just 22 shots.

- The Rangers are always a welcome cure to whatever may be ailing you. The B's finally put together a solid 60 minutes and cruised to a relatively routine 5-2 win in New York. Patrice Bergeron scored twice while Jaroslav Halak was solid in between the pipes, stopping 20 of 22 shots.

Who's Hot
Ondrej Kase - After being a healthy scratch for the second time this year, Kase returned to replace an injured Craig Smith and was excellent. He scored and picked up three points in his three game return. It may come down to Kase or Anders Bjork when Smith returns to the lineup, so he needs to continue to play this way on a consistent basis if he wants to remain in the top 12.

Patrice Bergeron - Bergy has officially set a career high in goals after he scored his 33rd of the season against the Flyers. He added three more against the Islanders and Rangers to give him 36 on the year as his MVP season continues.

Trent Frederic - Frederic remains right here as he continues to do whatever it takes to stay in the lineup. He isn't afraid to drop the gloves (two fighting majors this week) but he's also contributing offensively, as he scored a goal and added three assists in this five-game stretch. Frederic now has four goals, is a solid +5, and has dished out 36 hits in his 24 games this year.

Who's Not
Brandon Carlo - Carlo continues to struggle, and switching Jakub Zboril and Matt Grzelcyk didn't seem to help. Carlo was a rough -5 this week, and is now -13 on the year. They need to find a way to get him back to the shutdown defenseman he can be.

Tuukka Rask - It was a weird stretch for Rask. He was terrific against the Jets and Flyers, stopping 87 of 93 shots, but then not very good against the Capitals and Islanders, stopping just 34 of 41 shots. He's been excellent at times this year, but his 2.48 goals against average and .907% save percentage aren't where he should be.

Providence Report (23-21-4, 105 GF, 108 GA)
- Providence continues to win with excellent defense and goaltending. Jakub Lauko has had a strong year, but when your leading scorer after 48 games has just 26 points, you know you may have a problem offensively. It'll be interesting to see if a recent lineup tweak will help the team score a little more as they prepare for a playoff push.
- Jakub Lauko 14 goals, 12 assists, 26 points
- Jack Studnicka 6 goals, 16 assists, 22 points
- Karson Kuhlman 9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points
- Urho Vaakainen 2 goals, 19 assists, 21 points
- Dan Vladar 22-21-4, 2.20, .915%


It took four games, but the Bruins finally looked like themselves against the Rangers as they cruised to a 5-2 victory.

[TheJoker12]

Re: Bleed Black and Gold - Boston Bruins Franchise (NHL 21)

Bruins sweep West Coast trip, including a potential Stanley Cup Final preview (February 8th - February 21st)


Charlie McAvoy scores the shootout winner against the Vegas Golden Knights in what could be a Stanley Cup matchup come June.

Results
WIN 5-2 vs Los Angeles Kings
WIN 4-2 vs Colorado Avalanche
WIN 4-0 vs Chicago Blackhawks
WIN 3-2 (OT) @ Anaheim Ducks
WIN 4-2 @ Los Angeles Kings
WIN 4-2 @ San Jose Sharks
WIN 3-2 (SO) @ Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 7-0-0 (Overall - 45-10-6, 96 points), 1st in Atlantic

Game of the Week: 3-2 (SO) win at Vegas

Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights
Feb 20, 2021 1 2 3 SO F BOS (44-10-6) 0 1 1 1 3 VEG (38-17-6) 1 1 0 0 2 Three Stars M. Fleury 36 Saves W. Karlsson 2 G M. Stone 2 A	Team Stats Comparison BOS VEG Shots on Goal 38 27 Hits 27 13 Faceoffs Won-Lost 19 14 Penalty Minutes 2:00 6:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 3 1 Time on Attack 6:49 5:48
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD VEG 2:02 W. Karlsson (23) (S. Theodore, M. Stone) SECOND PERIOD VEG 1:01 W. Karlsson (24) (J. Marchessault, M. Stone) BOS 5:54 J. DeBrusk (16) (D. Krejci, D. Pastrnak) THIRD PERIOD BOS 13:36 S. Kuraly (6) (A. Bjork, K. Miller) SHOOTOUT BOS C. McAvoy

A potential Stanley Cup preview certainly lived up the hype as the Bruins met the Golden Knights in Vegas for one of the best games of the season. Vegas jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period thanks to two goals by William Karlsson, both of which coming with Boston's top line on the ice - a rare sight this year.

Jake DeBrusk got the Bruins back in the game by notching his 16th of the year after taking a beautiful backdoor pass from David Krejci and deflecting the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury. The game would remain 2-1 for the Golden Knights until late in the third, when it was the B's fourth line that came through. Kevan Miller pinched to keep the puck in along the boards, and it was scooped up by Anders Bjork. Bjork fired a shot on goal and it was redirected past Fleury by Sean Kuraly.

An exciting overtime period saw several great scoring opportunities for both teams, but no goals, so it was on to the shootout. Both Fleury and Tuukka Rask stood tall, with each turning aside the first six shooters from each team. Fleury blinked first, however, as Charlie McAvoy, the B's seventh shooter, made a beautiful move to beat Fleury. Rask stood tall against Alex Tuch, and the B's came away with two points.


Tuukka Rask stands tall on a penalty shot attempt against the San Jose Sharks.

Other Notes...
- Before the Bruins headed out West, they oddly played three Western Conference teams on home ice. They dispatched of the Kings in routine fashion, but they were very impressive against a strong Colorado team. Despite the power play failing to score on four opportunities, the B's carried the play and took home the 4-2 victory.

- Boston followed those two victories up with a shutdown performance against the Blackhawks, limiting Chicago to just 20 shots on goal in the 4-0 victory. The Perfection Line combined for eight points in the win, although the team did reveal afterwards that Nick Ritchie would be out indefinitely with back spasms. Luckily, Craig Smith will be able to fill his spot in the lineup after missing several games with a groin injury.

- The B's began their road trip out west with back-to-back games against the Kings and Ducks, and were able to come away with four points. Tuukka Rask was terrific against the Ducks, making 36 saves, while Halak was steady against the Kings - his second win against Los Angeles in just over a week.

- The San Jose Sharks may be the surprise of the NHL this season, but they were outclassed by the Bruins. Boston outshot San Jose 40-15, but somehow found themselves in a tie game late in the third period. Jake DeBrusk would break that tie, however, scoring with just 53 seconds remaining. Charlie McAvoy would add an empty net goal.

Who's Hot
Perfection Line - To be fair, this line could be on the list every single week, but they were especially good during this seven-game stretch. The trio of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand tallied 31 total points this week, and all three players now have over 80 points on the season.

Patrice Bergeron - Bergy has officially set a career high in goals after he scored his 33rd of the season against the Flyers. He added three more against the Islanders and Rangers to give him 36 on the year as his MVP season continues.

Tuukka Rask - After a rough stretch post-Christmas, Tuukka turned it on during this stretch, posting a perfect 5-0-0 record and picking up his third shutout of the year. Rask allowed just eight goals in those five games, and has a tremendous 30-8-2 record on the season.

Matt Grzelcyk/Kevan Miller - With the Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo pair struggling, Bruce Cassidy made a switch and moved Grz down to the third pair to play with Miller. They've been terrific. Grzelcyk even picked up his second goal of the year against the Avs, while Miller, not known for his offense, added two assists during this stretch.

Who's Not
None! - A 7-0-0 two-week stretch that saw the B's win four games out west, including a shootout win over the best team in the Western Conference, means no one is on the bad list this time!

Providence Report (23-24-6, 113 GF, 123 GA)
- Not a good stretch of games for Providence who are watching their playoff hopes slowly slip away. The reason is simple - the team can't score goals. The Baby B's scored just eight goals in a 0-3-2 stretch - although Jack Studnicka did score three of them.
- Jakub Lauko 14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points
- Jack Studnicka 9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points
- Karson Kuhlman 9 goals, 17 assists, 26 points
- Zach Senyshyn 8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points
- Dan Vladar 22-24-6, 2.25, .912%


Who else? David Pastrnak tallies one against the Colorado Avalanche, and now has 37 goals this season.