Three key takeaways from Bruins’ first five games of new season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins’ start to the 2024-25 NHL season can be explained by games against the Florida Panthers and games not against the Florida Panthers.
The B’s are 0-2-0 with 10 goals allowed in two matchups versus the Panthers. But in their other three games, the Bruins are 3-0-0 with a 13-8 scoring differential. Luckily for the Bruins, they don’t play the defending Stanley Cup champs again until Jan. 11.
There is plenty of improvement to be made defensively, and the goaltending of Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo could be better, too, but it’s definitely encouraging for the Bruins to see their scoring depth shine so far. Boston is averaging four goals scored per game with 12 players having scored at least once and six players with multiple tallies.
Here are three key takeaways from the Bruins’ first five games.
Too many penalties
The Bruins have taken a league-high 32 penalties, including a league-leading 29 minor penalties. They have taken four or more minor penalties in four of the five games.
It doesn’t matter if you have a great or bad penalty kill — Boston ranks 15th with a 80 percent success rate on the PK — spending that much time in the penalty box is not a recipe for consistently winning games.
The Bruins have to be more disciplined. A lack of composure has been a huge issue in the two games against the Panthers. The B’s gave the Panthers six power plays in the season opener (a 6-4 loss) and five power plays in last Monday’s 4-3 defeat at TD Garden. Florida scored with the man advantage in each game.
When the Bruins beat the Avalanche 5-3 on the road Wednesday night, all of Colorado’s goals were scored on the power play. Bottom-six forward Riley Tufte committed two penalties and the Avs scored on the ensuing power play each time.
Fourth line is playing like a first line
The Bruins had their fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke on the ice late in Wednesday’s game protecting a slim lead, and it was ice time well-earned.
This line has been Boston’s best to begin the season. In fact, it’s actually been one of the league’s most productive lines through five games.
Kastelic, Beecher and Koepke have each scored two goals with three assists. Their six goals combined are three more than the Edmonton Oilers’ high-powered top line of Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman has scored. Want an even crazier stat? Boston’s fourth…