The Boston Bruins are benefiting from employing the NHL’s hottest goalie right now, but there is more to the Black & Gold than Tim Thomas alone.
Granted, Thomas - who made arguably the save of the season on Maple Leafs defenseman Francois Beauchemin Saturday night in Toronto - has given the Bruins a “W” on nights they probably didn’t deserve to win. However, his supporting cast hasn’t left him to do it all on his own.
Right winger Nathan Horton, acquired from Florida in the off-season, leads the Bruins in plus/minus (plus-15); right behind him is Milan Lucic (plus-14). And although most people expect captain Zdeno Chara to play well defensively - and he is, with a plus-12 - defenseman Andrew Ference actually has the best plus/minus of any Bruins defenseman (plus-14).
Lucic also leads the team in game-winning goals (three) and shooting percentage (22.6 percent) despite averaging just 16:07 of ice time per game (fourth-best among Bruins forwards). The 22-year-old, now in his fourth NHL season, is on pace for a 39-goal, 71-point season, which would obliterate his previous personal bests of 17 goals and 42 points.
The Bruins have three home games this week - two against very beatable opponents (Buffalo on Tuesday and the Islanders on Thursday) before a big showdown Saturday against the powerful Philadelphia Flyers. They’ll need all three of Thomas, Horton and Lucic to be on their games to win that one.
The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 each Monday based on a combination of last week’s play and a squad’s overall outlook.
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