Injury Updates
Every team realistically has to deal with injuries throughout the year. The Bruins are dealing with a lot more than a handful of injuries already. We’ll start with the defense, as the B’s are now playing with only 1 of their top 6 defenders in the lineup, Torey Krug. Zdeno Chara is the most recent defender out of the lineup as he tore his mcl and will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks. This is a tough loss as he always leads the Bruins defenseman in ice time and penalty killing time. Down the list Charlie McAvoy has started skating again and his return in imminent. John Moore is missing time with a lower body injury and he is listed as day-to-day. Kevin Millar broke his hand back in October, but he should be returning soon. Brandon Carlo has missed a few games now with an upper body injury and there is no update on him since the Golden Knights game. Urho Vaakaneinen has missed time since his 2nd NHL game with a concussion back on October 23rd. The most recent injury and possibly the worst injury, Patrice Bergeron is set to miss an extended amount of time with a shoulder injury. This is a devastating blow and we have no idea when he will return.
11/16 Bruins 0 – Stars 1 (OT)
Well the Bruins did not win this game, but now for the 2nd time this year that these teams met up they went to overtime. The home team has won both of those game. Back in the beginning of this month Brad Marchand won it for the B’s going top shelf on the short side. In this one offense was hard to come by, as both goalies were phenomenal. Tuukka Rask was back to being Tuukka Rask in this one as he made 36 saves only allowing the one goal in overtime. Yeah, I’m sure he’s not happy with the result, but he has to be happy with himself for taking a step in the right direction.
As I stated earlier, Patrice Bergeron will be out of commission for an extended period of time. The Bruins placed Bergy on the injured reserve list as he has a shoulder and sternum injury. He sustained these injuries in the 2nd period in this tilt as he was driven into the boards awkwardly and immediately left the ice. This is horrible for the Bruins and now the lines are all shaken up. The one positive, if you can even call it a positive, is that the Bruins are no stranger to Bergeron being out of the lineup. He has missed time in each of the past 2 seasons. While the point production may diminish from that top line, the role playing guys like DeBrusk, Krejci, and so on, need to step up. “Next man up” That’s the mentality in Boston always, and it’s no different with the Boston Bruins.
11/17 Boston 2 – Coyotes 1
Secondary scoring is the only way this team can win games now. Injuries are running rampant through the Bruins lineup and the Arizona Coyotes are no easy task as they have been in the recent past.
Secondary scoring is what the Bruins got in this game and it all started with the newly called up Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson getting his first career NHL goal very early on in the first period.
Jake DeBrusk continued to provide points from the 2nd line as he scored shortly after JFK to extend the lead to 2-0.
As the game went on the tides somewhat turned and the game became all ‘Yotes. However Jaro Halak had another very strong outing as he saved 32 shots and stifled the Coyotes attempt at a comeback.
I’ve said this time and time again, but if the Bruins goaltending tandem continues to play as well as they have in these last 2 games, the Bruins will be in a lot of games with that secondary scoring needing to push the B’s over the top and win.
11/21 Boston 2 – Red Wings 3 (OT)
Another game another overtime loss for the Bruins, but hey we got a point out of it. The problem is, the Red Wings are a bottom of the table team and only getting one point from them is an issue. Yes, the Bruins have many injuries that they are dealing with and are nowhere near the same team, but they have to win this game.
Tuukka Rask was back in the net for this game and I can’t really put the blame on him for this one. He didn’t have the worst game in the world, he made 24 saves, but it’s not easy when you have a young defense in front of you that consists of mainly AHL players. He will bounce back from this one.
On the scoresheet, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson got his second goal of the season when he knocked the puck in with heavy traffic in the front of the net.
Chris Wagner got the second goal of the game for the Bruins on a tip in front of the net which gave them a 2-1 lead for the time being.
Ultimately, things will get better with time, but the Bruins are finding themselves falling out of the playoff picture, something no one saw for this team going into this year. They do have time to correct their ways, but it has to happen quick. Hopefully next week will be a better week for them.
The Week Ahead
After a night off, the Bruins return home from their four game road trip facing Pittsburgh, a struggling team that finds themselves in second to last place in the Metropolitan Division. The puck drops in that one on Friday 11/23 at 730. They then head up to Montreal on Saturday to face the Canadiens who have been playing better than people thought but still find themselves behind the B’s in the standings, puck drops at 7. Another test is in store for the Bruins on Monday night as they head to Toronto and go up against a really strong Maple Leafs team at 7. The week ends with the Bruins back at home against another surprise team, the New York Islanders. That game is Thursday at 7.
Videos courtesy of NHL.com