The Boston Bruins are back in business. They are 6-2-0 under interim coach Joe Sacco. Only the Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights (13 points) have recorded more points since the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery on Nov. 19.
The Bruins were in fourth place in the Atlantic Division after 20 games. They are in third now.
What has Sacco turned around? The following statistics from Boston’s past eight games tell the story:
1.88 goals allowed per game
Only the Utah Hockey Club (1.86) has been better defensively than the Bruins in this segment. In comparison, the Bruins were giving up 3.45 goals per game under Montgomery. The five teams with leakier defenses were all out of the playoff picture: Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks.
Sacco’s point of emphasis has been net-front coverage. He has insisted on physicality, good sticks and collapsing wingers in defending the slot. The Bruins’ layers of protection have returned.
“We’re helping each other if there’s a breakdown,” Nikita Zadorov said following the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. “That’s why we have a system. We rely on it. There’s layers. If one guy makes a mistake, other guys are going to clean up for them. I think that’s the main change from the start of the year.”
1.78 expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five
Per Natural Stat Trick, it’s not just that goaltending is saving the day. The Bruins’ xGA per 60 is the lowest of any club since Nov. 19. Compare that to the free-falling New York Rangers (3.36).
This is far stingier than the 2.4 xGA per 60 of the first 20 games. The Bruins have been excellent at limiting quality scoring chances, again with a focus on net-front thoroughness.
4.18 high-danger shots against per 60
Again, this is best in class. It reinforces how much Sacco is stressing net-front lockdown. The Bruins have not allowed much between the dots.
They were No. 8 in the category under Montgomery. But the number was higher: 6.1 HDSA per 60, per Natural Stat Trick. Trimming two high-danger shots per 60 is a significant improvement. They can thank Zadorov, Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, their primary go-to defensemen. But the forwards have been joining the defensive fun too.
29.6 shots per game
The Bruins are not a high-event offensive team. Their shot rate from the last segment of the schedule places them No. 11, well off the Edmonton Oilers’ league-leading 32.3 shots-per-game average.
But it is a step beyond their 27.1 clip under Montgomery. Their former boss was big on shot quality over quantity. He did not encourage, for example, an unscreened shot from the point. In that scenario, Montgomery would have wanted his puck-carrying defenseman to wait for forwards to get inside the dots. But by the time they got there, the opportunity disappeared.
Sacco is repeatedly on his players not to pass up looks. He has given them the green light to execute low-to-high looks and pump pucks on goal.
95 percent on the penalty kill
This is best in show. The Bruins have been synchronized on their 20 kills in the past eight games. Perhaps it’s because under Sacco, who is in charge of the penalty kill, there has been a greater emphasis on PK seamlessness.
The Bruins were at 75.6 percent under Montgomery. Not only that, they had gone on the kill a league-high 78 times. Their 20 kills for Sacco placed them No. 17 as of Thursday.
.925 save percentage for Jeremy Swayman
The ace is looking more like himself in his past five starts: square, patient, more settled. Compare that to the .884 save percentage Swayman posted in his first 14 starts.
Early turbulence was expected for Swayman. He missed all of training camp. He was adjusting to No. 1 life following the trade of Linus Ullmark. Swayman has benefited from the team’s net-front tightness. But he’s been more consistent at the same time.
“When you miss some time in training camp, it doesn’t matter what position, it takes a little time to get it all back together,” Sacco told reporters following the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. “He’s doing that.”
5 five-on-five goals for Brad Marchand
Like Swayman, Marchand was going to struggle early. He was coming off three summer surgeries. His training was limited. As such, Marchand scored only one five-on-five goal for Montgomery. The captain acknowledged his play and that of his underperforming teammates was the reason for Montgomery’s sacking.
With his conditioning improving and touch returning, the No. 2 left wing has become far more dangerous as a goal scorer.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
