Last week, the Boston Bruins had their best three-game stretch thus far through the first 10 of 82 games of the 2009-10 season, picking-up five of six possible points. Still ninth in the Eastern Conference, the B's are fourth in the Northeast Division with 11 points—two points behind Division leaders Buffalo Sabres (13) ; and one point shy of the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens (12).
Despite losing All Star Marc Savard and fan favorite Milan Lucic for the next 4-6 weeks, the Bruins stepped-up and persevered in their three games last week with a 2-0-1 record.
On back-to-back games, the Bruins defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 at the TD Garden on Wednesday night, and then turned around to face the Flyers, a 4-3 shootout loss, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA, on Thursday. To finish the week, another shootout in Ottawa, defeating the Senators 4-3.
2008-09 season: 10 games in 19 days for 13 points
2009-10 season: 10 games in 24 days for 11 points
There were many players in black and gold who elevated their games in lieu of Savard—Krejci and Bergeron—and saw some new faces to fill Lucic's gap in the lineup—Marchand, Sobotka, Paille.
For the week of Oct. 19-24, here are my three Stars of the Week.
3. Tim Thomas: The reigning Vezina Trophy winner went 2-0-0 with 2.50 goals-against average and a .917 save-percentage in his two games against the Predators and Senators. Thomas made 55 of 60 saves, including all three in the shootout. He gave the Bruins every chance to win in both of those games, and came through just in the nick of time. Thomas is now 4-3-0 with a 2.97 goals-against averagge and .902 save-percentage.
2. Patrice Bergeron: Picking up the slack for the Savard-less Bruins, Bergeron has shined during the three games last week, and has the best forward on the team. The 24-year-old scored 1-1-2 total with a plus-1, and five shots on goal. Bergeron also scored the game-winning goal in the shootout against Ottawa, and has been the go-to-guy in the face-off circle, winning 63.5-percent of the draws.
3. Derek Morris: Now tied with Bergeron and Savard as the team leader with seven points, Morris has completely turned his game around for the better this past week. Registering 1-4-5, plus-2, and seven shots on goal last week, No. 53 is proving his worth. Morris, who signed a one-year contract with Boston on Jul. 24, was brought in as a big-body defenseman with puck-rushing abilities, and a viable asset on the power play.
Morris' first seven games: 0-2-2 minus-4, five shots on goal
Morris' 10 game totals: 1-6-7, minus-2, 12 shots
His one goal last week came on the man-advantage on Thursday night against the Flyers, and his slap-pass to Krejci—his first goal of the season—to tie the game against the Sens was something worth watching, again. That pass was reminiscent of former Bruin, Ray Bourque.
The Bruins are back in Boston for a two-game home-stand—Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils and a Saturday matinee to host the Western Conference, Edmonton Oilers. Check back later for full-game previews of the upcoming games here and at the Bruins Blog.
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(Photo above by Ted Fitzgerald (Boston Herald Sports file)
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