Bruins
“We know we can still improve in all areas, so there are no limits for this group.”
Brad Marchand and the Bruins are 7-2-0 since Joe Sacco took over. . John Tumacki/Globe Staff
The numbers speak for themselves with the Boston Bruins under Joe Sacco.
For all the talk about the lack of toughness in Boston’s schedule in recent weeks, Boston has taken care of business after a rudderless start.
Since Sacco took over on Nov. 19, the Bruins have won seven of their last nine games, including four in a row following Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Flyers.
Heading into Saturday night, the Bruins are currently third in the Atlantic with a 15-11-3 record – just one point behind the Maple Leafs and Panthers for first place in the division (albeit with three games played more than Toronto).
After a rough stretch in which Boston’s best offensive conduits were fourth-line regulars like Cole Koepke and Mark Kastrelic, some of the Bruins’ key cogs are starting to do their part.
Boston’s victory was sealed by another overtime goal from Pavel Zacha – who has six points (four goals, two assists) in his last six games.
Seconds before Zacha delivered the winning blow with a tenacious victory over Tyson Foerster, Jeremy Swayman kept his team in the fight with a timely blocking stop against Joel Farabee on a breakaway attempt.
Leading 3-1 with 15 minutes left in regulation, Boston was given new life thanks to two goals from Trent Frederic (his second of the afternoon) and Brad Marchand – who now lit the lamp six times in his last eight matches.
Boston is strengthening its once-porous defensive structure, and the end of some regression in team-wide shooting percentages has paid off for a Bruins team that’s starting to put up points at a steady pace.
But Saturday’s win over Philly also strengthened an area of the Bruins’ game that can’t be quantified by glancing at the scoresheet: belief.
For the first time in a long time, the Bruins are operating with a lot of that on the ice – and the results are following.
“I think the belief factor is night and day compared to what it was in the beginning,” Swayman acknowledged. “You just have to understand that each of us can do a job and complete it the right way. So I think that belief is contagious and definitely improves our gameplay.
“And again, in situations like tonight, there was no doubt that we were going to attack and come back and it was really good to see us get the job done.”
Saturday’s third-period rally was a welcome about-face from the usual listless play that has plagued Boston in crunch time.
At the time the Bruins severed ties with Jim Montgomery, the Bruins were saddled with the worst third-period goal differential in the NHL at -12.
After Kastelic scored in the third period of Boston’s home opener on October 10, Boston did not find a scoring lead in the third period of a game on Causeway Street until December 1 – a span of 52 days .
Boston has now scored four third-period goals in its last three home games, headlined by goals from Frédéric and Marchand against a rebuilding Philly team. In the nine games since Sacco took over on Boston’s bench, the Bruins have the fourth-best third-period goal differential (+5).
“I think we believe we can win these games, even if you don’t get good starts,” said Zacha, who also won Tuesday’s game against Detroit in overtime. “I think we firmly believe we can bounce back in the third period and we have a heavy team that can beat teams over three periods.
“I think that’s when we start to see that we can overtake teams, win these games and come back.”
Positive results on the ice are the most effective way to instill more confidence in the Bruins amid this mid-season rebound. But beyond securing two more points, the Bruins found renewed confidence by adhering to a no-nonsense physical identity.
After giving up more than five goals in five of their first 20 games, the Bruins haven’t coughed up more than three goals in a game since Sacco took over – giving up just two goals per game in their nine last matches.
They have totaled more than 30 hits in three of their last six games, including a 40-14 lead in Tuesday’s win over the Red Wings.
A bigger factor in whether this team has turned the corner will come next week when Boston heads west for a five-game road trip against the Jets, Kraken, Canucks, Flames and Oilers.
But for now, the Bruins are doing what they should be doing:
Accumulate points against weaker opponents.
Stick to one identity.
And above all, believe in their game.
“We always knew what we had here,” Charlie McAvoy said. “It was what our style should be. That was a big part of it. Being a physical team, being a bigger team that wants to play fast and wants to use our size. And there were pockets where we didn’t do that. We were trying to figure out what we were. I think we know what we are now.
“We played according to our standards with a better level. And what’s exciting for us is we’re starting to see results, we’re starting to play better. And we know we can still improve in all areas. So there are no limits for this group.
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