Bruins report card: Grading every player at the halfway point of the season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins have played 41 games as of Friday, which means they are officially at the halfway point of the 2022-23 NHL season.
Most people thought the Bruins would be a very good team this season and likely make the playoffs. Few could have predicted they would be on pace to break the records for most points and most wins by any team in league history. Boston has a 32-5-4 record, putting the Original Six franchise on pace for 136 points and 64 wins.
The Bruins have a 9-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs for the best overall record. The B’s lead the league with 154 goals scored and 88 goals against (20 fewer than the next-best team). They also own the third-best power play and top-ranked penalty kill. Jim Montgomery has done a fantastic job in his first year as Bruins head coach, too.
As you might imagine, most Bruins players have met or exceeded expectations thus far. Let’s look at midseason grades for every Bruins player who’s played 20 or more games.
Stats: 32 G, 26 A in 41 GP
Grade: A+
Pastrnak is having his best NHL season at the perfect time given his contractual situation. He’s on pace to tally 115 points, which would be the highest of any Bruins player since 1992-93. He’s also on track to score 60-plus goals (64, to be exact) — something no Bruins forward has done since Phil Esposito in 1974-75. Pastrnak ranks second among all players with 32 goals and tied for fourth in scoring with 58 points.
Linus Ullmark, G
Stats: 22-2-1, .938 SV%, 1.88 GAA
Grade: A+
Ullmark is the favorite for the Vezina Trophy.
He leads all goalies in wins, save percentage, goals against average and goals saved above average (26.31). Ullmark has been remarkably consistent, too, allowing two goals or fewer in 20 of his 27 appearances. He’s given up more than three goals in just one game.
Ullmark going from a very good goalie to a consistently elite goalie is the primary reason why the Bruins have dominated the league over the first half of the season.
Natural Stat Trick
Stats: 15 G, 18 A in 41 GP
Grade: A+
Bergeron shows almost no signs of slowing down at age 37. He is on track to score 20 goals for the 10th consecutive season. His defense has continued to be elite, too. The Bruins have allowed just nine goals during his 483:43 of 5-on-5 ice time, which is the best mark in the league among players with 450-plus 5-on-5…