Segment 4: Who are the four best teams in the NHL right now? Who's rising, and who's falling? Charlie McAvoy talks to David Pastrnak during a stoppage of play. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzMjM1NTg5NTM1ODM1MzE4/usatsi_22180994_168400847_lowres.jpg] Charlie McAvoy talks to David Pastrnak during a stoppage of play. The Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights came out of the gate this season like world-beaters, rising to the top of the NHL's Atlantic and Pacific Divisions, respectively. But in the past few weeks, the Bruins and Golden Knights have come crashing back to earth. Let’s look at what’s behind their current struggles, and see what direction people should expect them to move in the weeks and months ahead. The Bruins stormed out to a 14-1-3 record through early November, but since then, they’ve gone 6-6-3. Only a win in their Dec. 27 game against Buffalo halted a four-game losing skid. The cushion Boston created for themselves has kept them in the No. 1 spot in the Atlantic – but the Florida Panthers are just four standings points behind them, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in third place in the division, six points behind the B's. The Bruins’ next 10 games includes showdowns with New Jersey (twice), Detroit, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Arizona and Vegas. Unless the Bruins turn things around soon, the Leafs and Panthers are going to overtake them in the standings. And Boston’s defense may well continue to be the reason why it can’t win like it did to start the year. To wit: in the Bruins’ first 16 games, they surrendered more than two goals just three times. However, in their 17 games since then, they’ve given up three goals or more 11 times, and they’ve given up four goals or more seven times. It hasn’t mattered whether Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman have been in net for Boston, and it hasn’t made a difference whether they’ve been taking on some of the top teams (including the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets) or teams that also have major issues (including the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sabres or Minnesota Wild). The Bruins have lost games they ought to have won, and those lost games may be the difference between the B's finishing atop the Atlantic and losing home ice advantage in the post-season. Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy looks on behind the bench. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzMjM1NjM4OTI3OTU5NjE5/usatsi_22167351_168400847_lowres.jpg] Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy looks on behind the bench. Meanwhile, in Vegas, the Golden Knights were leviathans to start the season, going 11-0-1 through Nov. 4. After that, they’re a thoroughly mediocre 10-10-4, and they’ve lost four consecutive games and five of their past six games. For the Knights, though, it’s their offense that’s been behind their current struggles: whereas they’d scored four goals or more in eight of their first 11 victories, they’ve scored two goals or fewer in 10 of their past 14 losses. That’s a distinct problem, given that their opponents of late have been the Sabres, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, none of whom are known as defensive forces. That’s why Vancouver has overtaken the Knights for top spot in the Pacific. And their next 10 games feature tilts against Los Angeles, Seattle, Florida, Colorado, Nashville and the Rangers. It’s not going to get any easier for them from this point on. Obviously, no one is suggesting the Golden Knights or Bruins are bad teams. Their strong performance to begin the season has given them some breathing room as they attempt to return to early-season form. That said, consistency is the name of the game at the NHL level, and a course correction has to be in order for Boston and Vegas to stay at or near the top of their divisions. They’ve demonstrated they can be dominant, but they now must prove they can pull out of a tailspin. THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTg5MzM3NTA5NzY2MjUy/my-thn-ad-banner-1500x150.jpg] THN.com/free
