Better Know a Contender?

In the 2009 playoffs, the Bruins lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games.  In those game in which the Bruins were victorious, 12 goals were scored and only 3 were allowed.  In their 4 losses,  5 goals were scored and 13 were allowed.  There may be no other team in the league where the offense and defense are so intextricably linked.  If the offense cannot score, then the defense will crumble.  If the offense does score, well then the defense is stout.

And this trend has unfortunately continued into the 2009-2010 regular season.  Only the whole thing seems to have intensified, as the Bruins cannot buy goals this year... Well, they probably could have, but for some reason they figured that losing their top goal scorer (Phil Kessel) without any replacement in sight would be a suitable state of affairs.  Sure, this blog may or not have endorsed Kessel's dismissal, but this blog also may or may not have expected Bruins management to actually pull the trigger on a trade... At least before it was too late.

And sure, the injuries have been bad.  Savard has missed 23 games this season, and that total should continue to climb.  Lucic has missed 32 games this season and is struggling to resume his old form.  Plus, Phil Kessel has missed all 51 games... At least for the Bruins.  But aside from these injuries where has everyone else gone?  The Krejci-Wheeler-Ryder line that combined for 70 goals last season line has been useless scoring only 33 this season (and is no longer playing together on the same line).  Plus the formerly offensive-minded defense, has all but disappeared (Widemand and Chara combined for 100 points last year.  This year? 43).

In fact, the offense is so bad that the Bruins have been held to 1 goal or less in 21 games this season... And they've only played 51 games.  Not surprisingly, they either lost or gave up points in each of those games (3-18, with those 3 wins coming on the shootout).  In other words, the Bruins are guaranteed to be completely shutdown 40% of the time.  That other 60% of the time?  Well, they average a measly 2.3 goals per game, so does it even really matter?

And the scoring is so bad that you can't even really blame the defense as the B's are currently 6th best in the league with a 2.45 goals allowed per game.  And their two goaltenders (Thomas, Rask) have both been well above the league average in GA and Save percentage all season long.

What's that?  Take a look at the last 9 games?  Okay fine:

Record: 1-7-1
Goals Scored: 15
Goals Allowed: 31
Standing: 9th place

Ouch.  For those scoring at home, that's a 1.66 G/G and a 3.44 GA/G in the last 9 games... Oh, fuck it.

Players to Watch:

None -   If you've been watching this team play this year, then I apologize, because there hasn't been much worth watching.