Bruins regress with losses

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Just when it looked like things were getting better, the Bruins reminded us just how much they miss the Kessel-Savard-Lucic line.

With last night's 2-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Bruins not only lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, but they were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since 2007. The first line of David Krejci with Marco Sturm and Mark Recchi on the wings is just not enough to make the offense effective. Recchi was brought in last season to be a third-liner and a veteran leader and was re-upped for that purpose, not to be a top-line offensive option.

The players on the ice are doing what they can. Shawn Thornton is trying to take over as the team's enforcer and has been pulling his weight. Patrice Bergeron has taken on more of an attacking style and is second on the team in shots as the team's second line center. But right now in terms of skill, the Bruins just don't stack up.

The Bruins have scored three times in the last four games and have a 1-3 record over that span to show for it. The one-goal efford in their 2-1 loss to the Devils came against backup Yann Danis. Their 2.18 goals per game was ranks 27th in the NHL. The power play has been attrocious, going 0-15 since they last scored a power play goal. On the season, the Bruins are converting just 11.5 percent of their power plays, good for dead last in the entire league.

The Bruins need to find a way to beat Montreal Thursday night, not only for their confidence, but for more practical purposes. While it is a long season, the Bruins are fourth in the Northeast Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Out of 30 teams, Boston's 13 points are 24th in the NHL. A prolonged losing streak would make it very hard on the Bruins to recover even with Savard and Lucic back.

On a related note, Phil Kessel played in his first game as a Toronto Maple Leaf, taking a game-high 10 shots, but did not score in the 2-1 overtime loss. He also got laid out in a rude welcome by Mattias Ohland.