We all love a little flare for the dramatic, don’t we? It seems like the Bruins do too. The late third period comebacks from a multiple goal deficit, the OT winners, the shootout wins when they had ZERO shootout wins last season… the Bruins are sending a dangerous message to the rest of the NHL that games with them aren’t over until the final buzzer.

Tack on top of that phenomenal goaltending by both Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak, and you have yet another Stanley Cup contending team in these Boston Bruins.

Through twelve games played, the B’s are 9-1-2 with a goal differential of +13 leading all teams in the East Division. What’s even more reassuring to Bruins fans, is not only David Pastrnak seemingly picking up right where he left off even after his first major surgery, but the ascent in play of Nick Ritchie, who was a part of the deal that sent Danton Heinen to Anaheim.

When Ritchie first arrived in Boston he sent a lot of fans into a state of concern, because he was seemingly out of shape, noticeably a slower skater than Heinen, and wasn’t scoring goals. Currently, Ritchie finds himself as a regular on the second line alongside David Krejci and Craig Smith, and a frequent on the power play. Not only that, but he’s earned that second line spot, and he’s contributing. Through all 12 games played this season he’s amounted to four goals and five assists. Ritchie also provides the element of physicality and intimidation as he’s not afraid to stick up for his teammates and drop the gloves.

Speaking of physicality, the Bruins, who a lot of fans thought lost their sense of big-baddedness (it’s a word don’t look it up), are seemingly a more hard hitting team than they were last year with the resurgence of Kevan Miller and the absolute fearlessness of new fan-favorite Trent Frederic. Miller is an inspiration regardless of how well he performs this season (which by the way, so far, has been fantastic) after breaking both of his kneecaps over the course of a year and a half. Frederic has proved he’s got absolute stones of steel after going toe-to-toe with Tom Wilson, who’s regarded as one of the baddest fighters in the league and has a good 20 pounds on Frederic.

If the Bruins can keep this momentum going, not let the (inevitable) slumps define their season, and start playing from in front more often than they play from behind… things are looking very promising.

• Uncategorized