Three Bruins storylines to watch as 2024 NHL trade deadline approaches originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins are in a slump right now.
They enter Monday afternoon’s game with the Dallas Stars having lost four consecutive games. It’s also the final matchup of a seven-game homestand that has seen the Bruins post a 1-3-2 record so far.
The Bruins had a great chance to end their losing streak Saturday. They led 3-1 in the second period and 4-3 late in the third period before losing 5-4 in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings.
“We added to our problems today,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the loss to the Kings. “We had breakdowns that shouldn’t be happening within our structure, and then also just game management. You gotta close out a game. You’re up twice in the third period and we don’t close it out. And then in the overtime, our power play’s gotta put it away. We didn’t.”
A lack of positive results during this stretch has resulted in the Bruins’ lead atop the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division standings disappearing. The Florida Panthers, who have won five consecutive games and nine of their last 10, lead the B’s by one point in the division.
The Bruins lost four straight games in December, and they responded after the holiday break with four consecutive wins. They were helped by a soft schedule coming out of the holiday break. The same scenario doesn’t exist this time. After playing a very good Stars team Monday, the Bruins hit the road for six of their next seven games, including a Western Canada trip that features matchups versus the Edmonton Oilers and league-leading Vancouver Canucks.
It’s painfully obvious the Bruins need help before the March 8 NHL trade deadline. But a lack of high-end trade assets will make it difficult for general manager Don Sweeney to pull off substantial moves.
Here are three key Bruins storylines to watch over the next few weeks leading into the trade deadline.
Can the penalty kill be fixed?
We’ve talked about the penalty kill several times in recent weeks, but the fact of the matter is this unit still hasn’t shown any improvement. The Bruins have a 74 percent success rate on the PK since the holiday break ended Dec. 27, which ranks 28th in the league over that span. All four teams below them are out of a playoff spot.
Boston’s penalty kill has allowed a goal in five of its six games (six goals total) during this homestand. The Kings scored a power-play goal Saturday that…