Turning the Table

Looking to add another victory to their active five game winning streak, the Boston Bruins will host Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils tonight at the Garden.  Only a mere two weeks ago, the still Stanley Cup champs found themselves in the last place spot in the Eastern Conference, a position a team with such talent and still the rights to Lords Stanley's Cup deserves to be in.  However, the past five games have brought nothing but success to that of the Bruins line up.

With contributions from everyone in the line up, the Bruins not only have won their past five games, they have embarrassed their opponents greatly.  With help from sophomore stars, Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand, as well as many other offensive threats in the line up, the Bruins have out scored their past five opponents 30-10.

However, not only is the offense to thank.  Tenacious defense from Zdeno Chara and the other five Bruins defensemen has had great impact on their success.  Like defense, good goal tending from both, Tim Thomas and Tuuka Rask has contributed to the teams winning streak.

With 17 overall points, the New Jersey Devils will look to come into Boston and end the streak that has increased the Bruins to 16 overall points.  Although currently sitting in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, four points separates the teams ranked 7 through 14, and there is no one in the NHL who has been playing better hockey than that of the Boston Bruins over the past two weeks of the regular season.

With home games tonight against the Devils and Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Bruins will then find themselves on a three game road trip against the last place New York Islanders and division rivals, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.

Still early in the season, the Bruins will have to continue to keep their fast paced offense alive and there defense strong, because finding yourself at the bottom of the standings come all star break, is a hard thing to get yourself out of.  The Bruins have the talent and depth, however they need to continue to have the heart that they have played with the past five games, the same heart that won them the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.