Focus on Boston

The Boston Bruins have hit a terribly rough patch. They’ve lost five consecutive games in regulation and have totaled only six goals in those five games. They’re coming off a 2-1 loss against Buffalo last night, and seemed to play better than they have of late, but the Bruins are now fighting for the postseason, one point out of eighth place in the ridiculously tight middle of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bruins have also lost five consecutive home games, so here’s what Terry Murray said today about trying to avoid being the Bruins’ slump-busting opponent…

MURRAY: “We know that, right now, the Boston Bruins are a wounded bear, and we’re going to have to be ready to go. The way they’re going to approach the game here tonight, in my mind, is by getting pucks in and really coming after us on the forecheck. Also I know that whenever they do not have the puck, they’re really going to make sure that their focus is on the checking, defensive part of the game.

“They’ll have four guys back, through the middle of the ice, and that’s the other part of our game that we have to be strong in, stronger than what we were in the first period against Columbus. We’ve got to get the puck in behind them and get after them on the forecheck, and put a lot of pucks on the net. I’m assuming that Thomas will be the goaltender here tonight. They might be a little fragile on that part of it, if we can come out and get the first goal of the game. It might serve us well.”