The Boston Bruins are being lauded far and wide as the surprise team so far in the 2008-09 season. The Bruins have re-structured themselves from the team it was just a few seasons ago. So far this season, the Boston squad has won 18 games out of 26 and lost only 4 times. They lead the Eastern conference. They've even appeared to have shaken off the Montreal Canadiens who had won 12 of the teams' previous 12 straight games. Boston has won the last 2 games over the Habs and they have also beaten Detroit, Philadelphia, Buffalo and others who have done well against the Bruins over the last few seasons. They are more mobile, solid in net and with that toughness that Bruins' teams of the past were renowned for.
Only the San Jose Sharks (14-0-2) and the Washington Capitals (10-1-1) have better home records than Boston has this season and the Bruins own the best road record in the Eastern conference at 9-3-3. Both the Bruins and the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings sport identical 18-4-4 records which trail only the red-hot Sharks who are 22-3-2 after 27 games. What in the world is up with the Bruins?
The Bruins are at the summit of the NHL standings because they have an overall solid team that comes to play every night. Center Marc Savard is having another great year. He's potted his 600th career point earlier this year and is in the top ten for points league-wide. Rookie Blake Wheeler is second in team goalscoring with 9 so far and 2nd league-wide for goals by a rookie behind Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski who has ten. Tough guy Milan Lucic is making a name for himself both with his fists and with his touch around the net. He has 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points, but it's his willingness to drop the mitts that is exciting longtime Bruins fans. He already has 53 penalty minutes stemming from the numerous fights he's had. But it's the Bruins' goaltending that is getting a lot of notice.
Anchored by rock-solid goaltending with Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez, the Bruins are currently tied with the Minnesota Wild in having the lowest goals against at a stingy 56 goals in 26 games for a tiny 2.15 goals against avg. Thomas has 2 shutouts and Fernandez just posted his first shutout of the season the other night with a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers.
With the league-best tandem in goal, solid goalscoring (they're 3rd overall in team goalscoring averaging 3.5 a game), four solid lines, good coaching, the Bruins look like they may go deep in the playoffs this year. Sure, it's easy to predict now and the wheels could fall off, but the Bruins appear rejuvenated and ready to play just about any game their opposites throw at them. When you usually outscore the opposition, outplay their goaltenders, and play physical when needed, you can usually win the game. It's a simple formula for success and the Bruins have it all this year.
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