The Bruins have been shut out seven times this season.
Thats the most since the Dave Lewis Error and anything that conjures up memories of that season is indeed a very bad thing. Its amazing to think this seasons Bruins team has pulled up more offensive no-shows than the squad three seasons ago that floundered once Phil Kessel had bolted the team, but the numbers dont lie.
So Claude Julien has the Bruins ready to go after a no-nonsense practice on Wednesday, and theyll be taking on a New Jersey Devils team they have dominated this year. Most people will remember the Bruins pulling a game out of the fire the last time they faced Jersey in their own barn during their January swing through Florida, but theyve dominated Martin Brodeur and the Devils defensemen.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Those performances came with Nathan Horton and Rich Peverley in the lineup, however, and the Bruins will need to dig deep against a Devils team fighting in a group of four hockey clubs for playoff seeding in the East. The shots arent falling now for the Bruins and there is little net-front presence and traffic in front of opposing goalies right now, and itll be another long, lonely night for the Boston scoring brigade if that doesnt change.
Offense is where were being challenged right now, said Claude Julien. Theres no doubt that will happen when you lose a couple of guys that make things happen offensively in a league of parody.
It makes a big, big difference. Were challenged a little bit there, but its up to other guys to step up right now. I think we can do better in regard to a lot of things: hitting the net is one of them. That would be a big help. Obviously our net-front presence is something we keep talking about, and we always talk about that.
Will the Bruins wake up out of their offensive slumber against a defensively staunch Devils club theyve dominated? All these answers and more will be coming tonight.
PLAYER NEEDING HIS TIRED PUMPED: For two games in a row its Joe Corvo. The Bruins defenseman could soon be hitting the pine if he doesnt play with a little more confidence, intelligence and purpose. Nobody is looking for the puck-moving defenseman to be a bruiser or a defensive zone stalwart, but hes got to at least provide offense if hes going to lug serious holes in his game onto the ice with him. The reward for playing him isnt nearly worth the risk with both Greg Zanon and Mike Mottau in the fold, and Johnny Boychuk on the comeback trail. Corvo finished with three points and a minus-4 during 13 games in February, and thats nowhere close to good enough.
DRESSING ROOM MANTRA HEADED INTO THE GAME: This game couldnt come quickly enough. Everybody is looking forward to moving on and moving forward. Its exhausting talking about consistency all the time. We all know we want to do it and keep plugging away at it. Tyler Seguin and the Bruins looking forward to wiping away the shutout loss to the Sens Tuesday night.
KEY MATCHUP: The Bruins penalty kill up against the Devils power play. New Jersey has allowed a league-high 13 short-handed goals this season and the Bruins have taken the second-most penalties in the NHL this season. That sounds like a recipe for PK specialists like Brad Marchand and Daniel Paille to do some damage against the Devils.
STAT TO WATCH: 7the number of times the Bruins have been shut out this season, the most since the 2006-07 season under much-maligned head coach Dave Lewis.
INJURIES: Johnny Boychuk (mild concussion), Rich Peverley (right knee sprain) and Nathan Horton (mild concussion) are out for the Bruins, but Boychuk appears close to a return after participating in morning skate. For New Jersey Henrik Tallinder (leg injury) and Travis Zajac (soreness) are both on injured reserve and out for a significant length of time.
GOALTENDING MATCH-UP: Tuukka Rask was the only goaltender at the optional skate and the expectation is that Tim Thomas will get the nod against the Devils coming off a strong losing performance to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night. Thomas is 5-3 in his last eight starts and is 3-0 with a 1.67 GAA and a .947 save percentage against the Devils this season in a dominant body of work. Martin Brodeur is expected to get the start for New Jersey and has struggled (.824 save percentage and 4.24 goals against) in a pair of winless appearances against the Devils.