Penguins/Bruins Home-and-Home Preview

A lot of people expected the Boston Bruins to be competitive this season.

For a playoff berth and a likely elimination in the first round of the playoffs.

Contrary to that conventional wisdom, the Boston Bruins entered last night tied for the most points in the entire league with 58 (a distinction they lost when the San Jose Sharks knocked off the Dallas Stars, 3-1). Although they have a few shootout losses, including one to the Penguins back in October, they have only lost 5 games in regulation all season.

There are several reasons why the Bruins have won just about 75% of their contests this year, and why the next 2 games will be a good measuring stick for the Penguins.

The Bruins play well in just about every phase of the game. They can produce offensively, yet play a solid defensive system. Their special teams can keep them in games, if not win them. And they have been getting some of the best goaltending in the league.

Marc Savard leads the way for the Bruins up front. He remains one of the best passers in the game, and anchors Boston's #1 line. Zdeno Chara still anchors the Bruin blueline.

Where Boston has taken quantum steps this year, however, comes in the growth and depth of the other players on their roster.

The big key for them in my opinion this year hasn't been the development of Phil Kessel -- although he's been great. Kessel has 22 goals and 38 points in 36 games and has blossomed into the game breaker many thought he would be when taken 5th overall in the 2006 draft. In fact, if Bruins' coach Claude Julien hadn't benched Kessel for 3 games of their first round series against the Montreal Canadiens last year for poor defensive play, it's entirely possible the Bruins, and not the Canadiens, would have advanced in that seven game series because Kessel was fantastic when he was in the lineup.

In any case, I believe the Bruins have become a much tougher team to defend against because of the leap 2nd year center David Krejci has taken. Krejci, just 21, has 39 points in 36 games and is plus 22. He gives Boston a reliable second line with Michael Ryder and former Phoenix Coyote Blake Wheeler.

The other main reason why the Bruins have fared so well this season has been the all-star caliber play of their number 1 netminder, former Journeyman and 34 year old Tim Thomas.

Thomas didn't make it to the NHL on a regular basis until 2005/5006, but has really come on strong in the last 2 seasons. Last year, he showed he could make the Bruins competitive on most nights. This year, his technique has improved even more. He's at or near the top of many NHL goaltending statistical categories, including his .935 save percentage, and has earned those rankings honestly.

The Penguins will probably see him Thursday on the back end of the home-and-home, while Boston suits up Manny Fernandez tonight.

Of course, all of Boston's success has happened despite losing inspirational and reliable teammate Patrice Bergeron to another concussion recently after he missed most of last season with a similar ailment. Bergeron has always been a key player for the Bruins and even though it's fair to say his career may be in jeopardy even at this relatively early stage in his career, the Bruins have soldiered on.

There's no question that the Penguins will have to bring their best game to have a chance against Boston the next few nights. They won't be able to take shifts off or fail to compete on the ice consistently if they want to win.

The Penguins also need to get Miroslav Satan scoring again. He's in a fairly protracted slump and, although he's always been a streaky player, the Penguins could benefit from him being a little more consistent. Perhaps that's why I'm hearing talk heat up about the Penguins talking to the Minnesota Wild again about winger Marion Gaborik.

The good news for the Penguins is that defenseman Hal Gill is expected to return to the lineup tonight after missing 10 games due to a shoulder problem. I'll be anxious to see who Penguin coach Michel Therrein decides to sit. Just like when Ryan Whitney returned to the lineup last week, I still think Mark Eaton or Philipe Boucher are the most likely candidates (in that order).

On the other hand, it doesn't look like forward Mike Zigomanis or defenseman Kris Letang are any closer to returning to the lineup, and I suspect Eric Godard will be out again as well.

I'll recap tonight's first game of the back-to-back set between these two clubs in Pittsburgh tomorrow.