LIVE Bruins Beat: Why the Bruins are Rolling
On this LIVE episode of Bruins Beat, Evan Marinofsky and Conor Ryan react to the Bruins 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday and look at how the team has been able to succeed so much lately and if the team can keep the win streak going that currently sits at 6 games.
Bruins Beat on CLNS Media is Powered by:
📲Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup!
11 Comments
Are y'all going live after the game? I looked last time and nuthin doin….
The last 6 games have been really impressive, because the team had a chance to attend practices and improve their teamwork with Sturm's systems. I've really liked the improved details in all three zones, and they remind me of the work ethic that the Bruins had in decades gone by. Here in New England, fans appreciate good fore-checking and good back-checking and that dirt dog level of play. Like many, I expect them to have ups and downs all year, especially when injuries happen or when the schedule and travel are against them. They are very watchable when they're on their game, and the emergence of Minten, Aspirot, Harris, and Khusnutdinov is really encouraging. Feeling good about the season so far.
Taking a broader view of these Bruins… they’re not as bad as the October 6-game losing streak might imply, but they’re also not as good as this current 6-game winning streak might imply.
There are encouraging signs. The second line performed WAY better during the last 8-9 games, compared to the first 8-9 games of the season. Also, Hampus Lindholm is back and playing regularly; that’s a big plus. The Bruins are getting contributions from youngsters, especially Minten, Khusnutdinov, and Aspirot.
There’s some warning signs, too, though. Elias Lindholm and Mittelstadt being out of the lineup injured at the same time is going to expose the Bruins’ lack of depth, sooner or later. The team has to find a way to continue developing Lohrei’s game and confidence, too; leaving him in the press box longterm is wasting an asset.
I still think this roster is destined for an 85-ish Point season, but I don’t see that as a bad outcome.
Thr Bruins at 5×5 are one of the worst defensive teams in the entire NHL
A good deal of their recent winning has been a direct result of two things…
1. The opposing goaltending they've faced has either been outright putrid or the opposing goalie has given up one or two bad goals every game
2. The Bruins own goaltending has been far better than the opposing teams' goaltending nightly
But if anyone thinks this Bruins team can keep winning while being as piss poor defensively as they've been at 5×5 all year, you're nuts
Bruins 2025 5×5 Defensive Metrics:
-32nd out of 32 teams in xGA
Which means they're dead last in the NHL at Expected Goals Against at 5X5 which annoints them as the worst team in the NHL at 5×5 defensively
– 30th in 5×5 Scoring Chances Against
-28th in 5×5 High Danger Chances Against
-26th in 5×5 High Danger Goals Scored Against
-25th in 5×5 Shots Against
-21st in 5×5 CF%
-20th in 5×5 FF%
It is unrealistic to think that this limited offensive Bruins team will continue to consistently get terrible goaltending from their opponents or continue to be this bad defensively at 5×5 without consequences
So unless the Bruins get exponentially better defensively at 5×5 they're going to be very prone to losing streaks or runs where they only win 2 or 3 games out of 7 or 8
This year's Bruins team 100% has more heart and guts than last year and they certainly aren't the pathetic quitters they were last year anytime things went wrong
But the reality still is the Bruins are a poor defensive team at 5×5 , one of the worst in the league
They also still only have one first line player in Pastrnak
Two of the three guys regularly playing on the 2nd line are 3rd liners talent wise (Middlestadt / Arvidsson)
And they don't even have a 3rd line, instead they have two 4th lines as not a single player in their bottom 6 will likely even sniff 30 plus points
They also really only have two Top 4 defenders in McAvoy and Lindholm.
After that, its nothing but a collection of 4-6 of bottom pair guys on defense
This team isn't the rock bottom 5 NHL lottery train wreck many thought they would be this year and they are far more worth watching this year than last year which is great
But…
At their ceiling they are still nothing more than a middling #8-#10 team in the conference with a roster that still lacks the type of skill and speed required to win consistently in the NHLs post season
Again, it's great that they aren't the dumpster fire & quitters they were last year
But that won't change the fact the roster still isn't anywhere near Cup competitive
The overall win this year?
The Bruins are better than they were last year & more entertaining to watch than last year's punchless quitters
The overall loss this year?
The Bruins still have a very mid roster, a below average Farm System, they're terrible defensively, they have Salary Cap issues and there still is no clear path to improving the team to the degree where they're actually a real Cup threat again
Can Don Sweeney still cobble together a Bruins team that can make the 1st round and then get their teeth kicked in when the post season begins & the Bruins have to face the NHLs real talented teams nightly?
Sure
Because lets face it, that has been Don Sweeney's goal as GM for a decade and he's hit that goal out of the FN park
Proof?
Don Sweeney has been GM since 2015
-9 of 10 years his teams have failed to win more than one playoff round
– His teams have more playoff DNQs in a decade as GM (2) than 2nd round wins (1)
It is what it is at this point but at least the Bruins aren't last year's train wreck
But it 100% feels as though they are still a new GM and light yeears away roster wise from competing for a Stanley Cup consistently again
I agree 100% with the stance of no dealing 1st round picks. God knows we've seen too much of that over the past decade or so. And can we use the cliche "pulling on the rope" less?
They need to trade Joki and get a vet RD that's defensively minded to play with Lohrei on the 3rd pairing and a scoring LW to play on the 2nd line imo. That would be huge for this team, also interested in what they're going to do with Poitras. Feels like they have to move him in the long run with Hagens coming up next year I would assume and then them already having Lindholm, Minten and Kuraly in their ideal roles currently.
Bruins r going to be 500 hockey team at best & maybe squeek into the playoffs pray 🙏
If Minten ends up winning "Rookie of the Year" award, Toronto will IMPLODE.
Great podcast Connor and Evan, great information and insight on the trades and our future
They mentioning Kastellic he’s been a difference maker
I think it cannot be understated how important Marco Sturm’s coaching contribution has been to the success of the team. He is instilling a grinder identity and mindset in the team, he is calling out and benching players that are underperforming to teach them a lesson and motivate them to really give it their all, like with Lohrei. This team is really starting to play like they need to and I’m really excited to see the production from the team broadly.