The Bruins stand a top the North East division with 63 points, ahead of the Montreal Canadiens by a four point margin. This season has had some some ups and downs for the Bruins, but this team seems to be turning a corner. Here is an update on how some individual players have performed so far this season with letter grades.
A: Patrice Bergeron has brought his game back to pre-concussion form, winning the first star award for the month of January. Bergeron scored 17 points in January (8 goals, 9 assists). Bergeron has tallied 40 points so far this season in 50 games which leads the Bruins.
Bergeron is a front runner for the Selke Trophy which goes to an NHL forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. He made team Canada last year for those exact reasons for his defensive abilities especially on the penalty kill. Did I mention he is a great puck mover on the back end of the Bruins power play?
A: Tim Thomas is on his was to his second Vezina trophy in three seasons, after he was predicted to be the back-up going into this season behind Tuukka Rask. Thomas got off to a ridiculous start posting three shutouts in his first six starts. Thomas has recorded a 24-5-6 record with a 1.81 GAA, a .945 SV%, and 6 shutouts. If Rask can keep his save percentage where it is it would be an NHL record.
B: Tuukka Rask has simply had a ton of bad luck when he plays so far this season. The sauve Rask has still posted a respectable 2.67 GAA and a very good .923 SV%. Rask has only recorded a 4-10-1 record, Rask will be called upon more down the stretch as the Bruins would like to rest Thomas a little more than usual. Expect his record to improve especially if his stats say about the same with GAA and SV% because they are simply good.
C: Nathan Horton started the season on fire for Boston scoring three goals in the first two games and went on a nice stretch but, Horton only has 28 points and in some games seems invisible. One member of the Florida Panthers media called him “a non-chalant player” when I was covering the Bruins vs. Panthers game in Sunrise FL. Horton needs to step up his game especially with the Bruins best offensive player Marc Savard once again sidelined with a concussion.
Bruins rookies Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin have been having nice seasons, and are making big strides this year. Seguin the second pick in last years draft has 7 goals and 16 points. The undersized Marchand is actually out performing Seguin with with 10 goals and 25 points. Marchand also has been very effective on the penalty kill, and his play sent Daniel Paille to be a healthy scratch for many games this season.
Seguin B-
Marchand B+
A- Milan Lucic is on fire this year with 20 goals and 32 points so far. Lucic broke his previous record of 17 goals in a season before the All-Star game. Lucic and Bergeron should challenge for 30 goals this season. Lucic is of course a big gritty guy and can change the pace of a game with a check, fight, or even a goal.
The Bruins looks to keep up the pace tonight vs. the new hot bed in hockey the Carolina Hurricanes after a great All-Star weekend. Thomas will be in goal to start off the post All-Star game part of the season.
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