Fantasy or Fiction: Bruins Remain ‘Beast Of The East’

What do you do for an encore if you’re the Boston Bruins?

Well, for starters, you begin the 2011-12 season still trying to shake off the pounding headache that is your Stanley Cup hangover, to the tune of a 3-7-0 start to the campaign. Then, at about the precise moment your critics are about to say, “one year wonder,” you take it up a notch or two, or in this case, 10, as in 10 -straight wins and counting for the defending Cup champs. Thanks to their little hot streak, the Bruins now sit at 13-7-0, tied for the most wins in the NHL (with Minnesota & Dallas), and leaving them a mere two points back of the Penguins for top spot in the East, with two games in hand.

Dare I say it, the Bruins are even better than last year. Still the Beast of the East. And the biggest reason why? Tyler Seguin.

You knew Seguin, who’s still only 19 years old, was going to be special after his dazzling 4-point performance vs. Tampa Bay last May, in only his second-ever playoff game. Nonetheless, the 2nd-overall pick in 2010 has exceeded all expectations in the first quarter of his sophomore season. He currently sits 9th in league scoring with 23 points, which amazingly is one more point than he recorded over 74 games in his rookie season a year ago. He’s tied for 3rd in the NHL with 12 goals, and his three game winners rank second in the league. He’s the only Bruin ranked in the Top 50 in scoring, and the guy’s on pace for a 94-point season. Did I mention the fact that he’s still only 19? Thought so.

Perhaps Seguin’s most telling statistic so far this season is his plus-minus rating – which is a league-best plus-18. His solid two-way play this year has garnered praise from defensive-minded Head Coach Claude Julien, cementing him a spot on the Bruins’ second line. No more healthy scratches this postseason.

Sure, G Tim Thomas is also a big reason why the Bruins are having early season success. Boston has a 2.10 team GAA, good for 2nd in the NHL. But that’s really nothing new in Beantown. The Bruins were also 2nd in the league a year ago in team GAA (2.30).

However, the Bruins actually rank 2nd in the NHL in Goals per Game this season (3.30), compared to 9th in 2010-11, thanks in no small part to the contributions of Seguin, who’s singlehandedly accounted for nearly 20 per cent of the Bruins goals this year.

Boston, by and large, didn’t make many major personnel changes to their championship roster from last season, perhaps with the exception of adding D Joe Corvo. Undoubtedly, the biggest impact on their lineup has been the emergence of their super sophomore, Tyler Seguin. And if he keeps up his current pace, it could very well mean another trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for the Bruins come June.

Seguin Video Highlights from 2011-12