Some very premature thoughts after 1 game:
1.) With no Bergeron and two rookie defenseman, it's no surprise the Bruins found themselves in an early hole. But still credit is due to the rookie blue liners for recovering and playing well in the closing period when the game was still tight.
2.) I think we'll grow to like David Backes.
3.) I thought Claude had a good plan in terms of doling out the playing time, rotations, etc. Sure, the two rookie forwards found their way to the bench in the final period, but that move seemed justified last night.
4.) Marchand seems to be carrying over his World Cup experience.
5.) I'm glad Sweeney ignored the local mediots and kept Pastrnak, who landed 8 shots on net. Seems like too many people last year dismissed the fact he suffered a significant foot injury in training camp, a camp that would have been a crucial development period for him. He's the type of player you can build around, not one you trade for a bottom 6 forward and 3rd pairing defenseman.
Yeah, it's early. But last season's 0-3 start, which turned into a mediocre 8-8-1 run, loomed large by the time April rolled around.
1.) With no Bergeron and two rookie defenseman, it's no surprise the Bruins found themselves in an early hole. But still credit is due to the rookie blue liners for recovering and playing well in the closing period when the game was still tight.
2.) I think we'll grow to like David Backes.
3.) I thought Claude had a good plan in terms of doling out the playing time, rotations, etc. Sure, the two rookie forwards found their way to the bench in the final period, but that move seemed justified last night.
4.) Marchand seems to be carrying over his World Cup experience.
5.) I'm glad Sweeney ignored the local mediots and kept Pastrnak, who landed 8 shots on net. Seems like too many people last year dismissed the fact he suffered a significant foot injury in training camp, a camp that would have been a crucial development period for him. He's the type of player you can build around, not one you trade for a bottom 6 forward and 3rd pairing defenseman.
Yeah, it's early. But last season's 0-3 start, which turned into a mediocre 8-8-1 run, loomed large by the time April rolled around.