This Week in Boston

The Boston Bruins played five games this week, here in the WCHL. Boston managed a 2-3 week and a second consecutive losing week. The Bruins currently sit in 23rd position league wide with a record of 27-32-4 after 64 games. The Bruins did manage both wins at home, 4-2 vs Columbus and 5-2 vs the LA Kings. The team has been very respectable on home ice, with a record 19-13-1.

Captain Mitch Marner
" If we could translate how we play at home, on the road, we would have been a playoff team this year, that gives us confidence going into next season, where we should have improved goaltending and hopefully add to the roster. We have been competitive for five straight weeks, thats a solid sample size, it will give us confidence in the last 18 games of the season, we will put our best foot forward."

Last week we talked about Joonas Korpisalo and his three shutouts this season in a Boston uniform. This week we look at Thatcher Demko, Demko has played 8 games for Boston this season, also seeing time in three others, he has a save percentage of .922 and a GA of 2.64. Demko only has a record of 3-5, but those numbers over a full season should translate into a fine full season.

GM Bourque
" Goaltending is so key to winning in the WCHL, its an area if you want to have a shot at the playoffs and going anywhere once you get there, you better have solid goaltending, a decent back up is essential to a long run, we are reasonably confident we have found two guys we can trust for the long arduous challenge that is a WCHL season."

Mathew Barzal  
" I have been asked how things are going, and I think I am settling in, my production has not been what I wanted but there is always and adjustment when you join a new team after the season has started, next season I expect to be better prepared, and playing with Mitch is great fun."

The trade deadline has arrived the Bruins were minor sellers, trading Paul Statsny for Darren Helm and a 2019 3rd rounder. The Bruins would have loved to be in the position of buyers, a top line leftwing would have been on the teams wish list and a top pairing dman to play long term with Dahlin, but its just simply to early in the team building cycle, having said that the Bruins were interested in a few guys and did kick the tires but found the asking price too high at this time.


This Weeks Games

913 Columbus Blue Jackets (2) vs Boston Bruins (4)
935 Toronto Maple Leafs (4) vs Boston Bruins (3)
964 Los Angeles Kings (2) vs Boston Bruins (5)
974 Boston Bruins (2) vs Detroit Red Wings (3)
992 Boston Bruins (1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (4)

......out for this week....peace

Bruins Update

We are at the 10 game mark of S 32 here in the WCHL. The Bruins under new Gm Bourque have acquitted themselves respectfully. The Bruins are 5 -5 after 10, playing .500 hockey, 26 goals for, 26 goals against. This is a feat considering that the boys from Boston, have, if not the worst, close to the worse goaltending in the WCHL. The top line of the Brew Crew, Mitch Marner, Tyler Toffoli and Nazim Kadri have done a nice job of competing enough to be responsible for 9 goals and 23 points. Ryan Getslaf is ageless playing 3rd and 4th center has account for 9 points in 10 games. The biggest surprise might be on the blue line where Nate Schmidt has 10 points in 10 games and Justin Schultz has 7 assists in 10 games. Schmidt also leads the team with a +6. From a team stat perspective the Bruins much like Bourque's old team Philadelphia, find themselves among the team leaders in Shots For, thy Bruins trail only the Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers with 38.80 shots per game. They are also among the least penalized teams in the league, sitting 6th. The Bruins lost a close 3-2 decision to Bourque's ex team Philadelphia as the high lite of the week.

Gm Bourque
" We are doing some good things in the early going this season, when you can generate shots you put pressure on your opponents back end and if your disciplined and keep out of the box, teams have to beat you 5 on 5. We have some nice leadership, veterans who have been to and  won a Cup and guys with things still to prove. We are building, we are in the early stages of building a team that Boston can be proud of, its starts with effort, when th fans know you are showing up every night with your hard hat on, they are proud to support you."

Mitch Marner
" We are learning how to play as a team, learning to put the right work in, its a culture thing and we are building one, this is a historically a proud franchise, we have a lot to live up to but nothing gets done if you dont come to the rink with the right attitude, just get better every day."

First 10 Games

15 Tampa Bay Lightning (1) vs Boston Bruins (2)
24 Boston Bruins (2) vs Carolina Hurricanes (5)
33 Boston Bruins (1) vs New York Rangers (3)
53 Buffalo Sabres (1) vs Boston Bruins (6)
72 Philadelphia Flyers (3) vs Boston Bruins (2)
91 Columbus Blue Jackets (1) vs Boston Bruins (3)
106 Boston Bruins (4) vs New York Islanders (3) - SO
124 Boston Bruins (1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (3)
131 Calgary Flames (4) vs Boston Bruins (1)
156 Buffalo Sabres (2) vs Boston Bruins (4)


..out from the Gardens for this week, peace