Though the Bruins have gotten off to some slow starts this season, including Monday night against the Capitals, they have had a knack for finishing their games strong. Most recently, the B's lit up Washington with four third-period goals.
So far this season, they have outscored opponents 15-7 in the third period. In the first period, though, it's 5-5.
The Bruins also overcame a 3-0 deficit on Saturday against the Capitals, scoring late in the second and twice in the third before ultimately losing in overtime.
The Bruins have been able to keep pace with the Flyers and Capitals at the top of the East Division despite waiting until the second half of games to turn up the offense. If they can start the way that they've finished, they could start take control of the battle for first.
Here's what they have struggled with, and why there's reason to believe that better first period production may be just around the corner.
Digging a hole in road games
Overall on the season the Bruins have equaled opponents in first-period scoring, scoring as well as giving up five first-period goals through their nine games. However, on the road the team has had a tough time warming up.
In the Bruins' five road games they have only tallied a single goal in the first stanza. That goal came back in the first game of the year when Brad Marchand opened Boston's season with a power-play goal against the Devils.
Boston has won a single road game when giving up the first goal to its opponent.
Scoring last rather than scoring first
The Bruins have been heavily relying on their ability to bounce back in games to produce a winning result. In the five games in which the Bruins allowed the opening goal, they have taken away points in four.
Their late game turnarounds have helped the B's keep just one tally in the regulation loss column. One such example came Jan. 21 when they allowed two goals before they got on the board against the Flyers, a game that required the Bruins to score four third-period goals in order to send the game to overtime and eventually get them the win in a shootout.
Similarly, the Bruins found themselves in a 3-0 deficit in both of their games in Washington and were able to grab points in each of those games as well. Those efforts allowed Boston to win the series and end the Capitals' nine-game point streak. That feat ended Washington's longest point streak to start a season in franchise history and put the Bruins just one point behind the division-leading Flyers.
A reason to be hopeful that more first-period scoring is on the way
Here's the kicker about the Bruins' inability to score first: They consistently outshoot their opponents in the first period. In fact, they have an impressive 105-56 shot advantage in the opening period. Overall they have actually outpaced opponents in shots in every period except for overtime, but not by as large a margin as they do in the first.
It's critical for the Bruins to start finishing on those first-period shots as an early lead for the Bruins has been a key indicator for their success. In all four games that the Bruins led after one period, they have won.
Next, the Bruins will look for stronger starts in their two-game road series against the 7-2-1 Philadelphia Flyers. Winning that upcoming series could leapfrog the Bruins past the Capitals and Flyers into sole possession of first place in the East Division.
