The NHL launched a new analytics website, NHL EDGE, that provides puck and player tracking data. What does that data say about the Boston Bruins through six games?
The National Hockey League recently unveiled a new analytics side of its website called NHL EDGE, and while the sample size is small through just six games, the Boston Bruins stand out in a number of areas.
1. Zone Time
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has emphasized the team playing a 200-foot game. In other words, taking opportunities to jump up in the offensive zone to create chances while also being defensively responsible. That is the ideal for most teams, if not all, but only a handful have the personnel and execution to do so.
In the case of the Bruins, they have both. At even strength, the puck has spent 41.4% of game time in the offensive zone for Boston, which puts them in the 59th percentile. On the other end, the defensive structure that the Bruins are building on – compared to the more prolific offense in 2022-23 – is evident in the analytics. The puck is spending 39.7% of even-strength game time in their defensive zone, which is a full percentage point lower than league average and places them in the 65th percentile.
All of this to say the Bruins are above-average at keeping the puck out of their end and tilting the ice offensively. That much would be expected of a 6-0-0 team, but it proves their success in these close-scoring games has not been an anomaly.
2. Speed (or Lack Thereof)
The Bruins invested in size this offseason, bringing in big forwards such as Milan Lucic, James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Geekie – all of whom are 6-foot-3 or taller and over 200 pounds – to supplement the physical play style they want to bring this season.
Compared to the rest of the league, which is becoming faster, the Bruins’ size is arguably taking away from their speed. They rank below 50th percentile in every skating speed category tracked by NHL EDGE. For example, the Edmonton Oilers lead the league with 203 bursts of 20+ miles per hour; the Bruins have 111 so far.
All that said, the Bruins ranked below the 50th percentile last season, and still boast players that can utilize top speed when necessary, so as much as speed is growing in importance across the league, the Bruins are still finding success without it as a strength.
3. Getting Pucks to the Net
It’s what every hockey coach preaches, and the Bruins have been doing just that. Their 64 high-danger shots on goal ranks in the 93rd percentile in the NHL this season, and they’ve been converting at an above average rate with an 18.8 shooting percentage (59th percentile).
Despite shooting from mid-range less than the average team, they’ve still managed to score six goals, good enough for a 13.3 shooting percentage (64th percentile). That’s in large part because of Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Each have three mid-range goals, which ties four other skaters for second in the league behind Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat (5).
It’s been established that these sample sizes are too small to make sweeping judgements on, but the early showings from NHL EDGE tell the story of a Boston Bruins team that sacrifices speed for size, but it’s using that size to tilt the ice to the offensive zone and create chances close to the net.
That’s the identity Montgomery wants for his team, and it – along with stellar play in net from Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman – have helped them start the season 6-0-0.