The Boston Bruins have been an elite NHL team for years, and they came into the 2024-25 season expecting to maintain that position and possibly make a surprise run at the Atlantic Division title. However, the balance and strength that has been a hallmark of the franchise under multiple coaches appears to have become nothing but a memory.
The Bruins have already been shut out four times this season and they have only scored one third-period goal at home this season. Suddenly a team that features David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy is struggling badly to put the puck in the net.
The slow start led to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney firing head coach Jim Montgomery, who was in his third year as the team’s head coach. Two years ago, Montgomery had led the Bruins to the best regular-season record in NHL history, but a first-round defeat to the Florida Panthers quickly followed. As a result, Montgomery had little benefit of the doubt with the organization and the team removed him when he did not appear to have any answers to their early-season difficulties.
At their current rate, the Bruins are technically on the outside of the NHL’s playoff structure. While there is still plenty of time to turn their season around, it doesn’t seem likely unless interim head coach Joe Sacco can unlock the team’s scoring slump.
The Bruins have one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players in David Pastrnak. He has scored 40 goals or more four times in his career and hit the 60-goal mark two years ago. While he leads the Bruins with 22 points, he has just 8 goals in 25 games and his overall play has been a huge concern for the Bruins.