Winning Streak vs Losing Streak

When the Bruins began a 6 game road trip in Long Island on February 17, no one knew what to expect. Little did we know, the Bruins would win 7 straight games before losing in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 5. Since that 3-2 OT loss, the Bruins have dropped four straight games (including an ugly one to the Islanders). Days of Y’Orr has decided to look deeper into both the winning and losing streak to give you, the reader, a more detailed explanation of what the hell is happening. Without further adieu: Winning Streak vs. Losing Streak.

Winning Streak (7 games; 6 road/1 home)

Goals For: 3.14 goals per game during win streak
Goals Against: 1.42 goals against per game during win streak

– Special teams –

Power Play: 2 for 18 (11% success)
Penalty Kill: 14 for 17 (82% success)

– Individual Stats –

Goals: Milan Lucic (5 [1 PPG]), Nathan Horton (4), Brad Marchand (3), Patrice Bergeron (1), Dennis Seidenberg (1-PPG), Mark Recchi (1), Greg Campbell (1), David Krejci (1), Tyler Seguin (1), Michael Ryder (1), Rich Peverley (1), Steve Kampfer (1), Blake Wheeler (1)

Assists: David Krejci (8), Andrew Ference (4), Milan Lucic (4), Patrice Bergeron (3), Adam McQuaid (3), Nathan Horton (3), Tyler Seguin (2), Dennis Seidenberg (2), Mark Recchi (2), Chris Kelly (2), Michael Ryder (1), Tomas Kaberle (1), Shawn Thornton (1), Zdeno Chara (1), Brad Marchand (1), Rich Peverley (1), Blake Wheeler (1)

Total Points during win streak: Milan Lucic (9), David Krejci (9), Nathan Horton (7), Brad Marchand (4), Patrice Bergeron (4), Adam McQuaid (3), Dennis Seidenberg (3), Mark Recchi (3), Tyler Seguin (3), Michael Ryder (2), Rich Peverly (2), Chris Kelly (2), Blake Wheeler (2), Greg Campbell (1), Steve Kampfer (1), Shawn Thornton (1), Zdeno Chara (1), Tomas Kaberle (1)

– Goaltending –

Tim Thomas: 3-0 record, 1.00 GAA and a save percentage of .964 in 3 games
Tuukka Rask: 4-0 record, 1.75 GAA and a save percentage of .966 in 4 games

– What We Can Take Away –

The top line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton were on fire during this 7 game stretch. They combined for 10 goals and 15 assists (25 points) with Lucic and Krejci tied at 9 points a piece. Outside of that, 18 Bruins (one who isn’t even on the team anymore) recorded points in the streak. Let’s call a spade a spade and just call the offense on fire. The offense wasn’t the only thing clicking during this streak. The goaltending was phenomenal and probably the best collection of games we’ve witness this season. Thomas and Rask both posted a GAA less than 2 and save percentages of over .960. That’s quite the accomplishment and really speaks to the level of which the team was playing.

After the jump we look at the losing streak and wrap this sucker up.

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Losing Streak (4 games; 2 road/2home)

Goals For: 2 goals per game during losing streak
Goals Against: 3.75 goals against per game during losing streak

– Special teams –

Power Play: 1 for 13 (7% success)
Penalty Kill: 13 for 17 (76% success)
Penalty Shot: 0 for 1 (Marchand @ Montreal)

– Individual Stats –

Goals: Zdeno Chara (2 [1 PPG]), Nathan Horton (2), Rich Peverley (1), Milan Lucic (1), Mark Recchi (1), Greg Campbell (1)

Assists: David Krejci (5), Milan Lucic (4), Zdeno Chara (2), Nathan Horton (2), Michael Ryder (1), Shawn Thornton (1), Tomas Kaberle (1)

Total Points: Milan Lucic (5), David Krejci (5), Nathan Horton (4), Zdeno Chara (4), Rich Peverley (1), Mark Recchi (1), Greg Campbell (1), Michael Ryder (1), Shawn Thorton (1), Tomas Kaberle (1)

– Goaltending –

Tim Thomas: 0-3 record, 3.66 GAA and a save percentage of .920 in 3 games
Tuukka Rask: 0-1 record, 4.00 GAA and a save percentage of .846 in 1 game

– What We Can Take Away –

Yikes. First, the defense and the goaltending have been terrible. The Bruins have allowed two times as many goals as they’ve scored in these four games. Again, yikes. Tim Thomas hasn’t looked like Tim Thomas for much of the three games he’s played, but what can you do when you face 39 shots (Pittsburgh) and then 40+ shots on back to back nights (45 against Buffalo and 41 against New York). The defense surely hasn’t helped out the goaltending. Allowing 40+ shots in a game, especially when back to back, is going to fatigue your goalie. It doesn’t matter if he is 36 or 26. Rask wasn’t any better in Montreal and it could be why he didn’t see any action in the back to back games against Buffalo or New York.

Another glaring issue is the power play. I spoke about this during my Grindin’ Gears segment last week so I won’t harp on it to much. I do, however, think its time for Julien to change the lines and strategy. Last night I went to the Celtics game with my brother and all we talked about was hockey (must be in our blood) and he told me this about the power play lines.

“Line 1: Back end should be Krejci and Kaberle. Stick Chara in front of the net and use Bergeron/Horton along each side wall. Allow Z to screen to the goalie while both Kaberle and Krejci have the open ice for their vision. Line 2 should be Seguin playing center with Lucic and Peverley on the wings. It’s time to get the kid some time, especially on the PP. Use Kampfer and Ference on the back end so Kampfer can move the puck and Ference can break up anything that gets past Kampfer.”

In theory it’s not a bad idea. Better than going 3 for 31 over 11 games, right?

One last thing – the amount of penalties taken in 7 games is equal to that taken in 4 games [17] (counting killed penalties ie: not fighting). Discipline is a huge issue lately. Although the Bruins have a decent penalty kill, they’re not going to kill every penalty. The team needs to stop taking such lazy penalties. Also, where the hell has Brad Marchand been?

Hopefully the black and gold get back to their winning ways in Columbus.