After the disaster that was last year’s Boston Red Sox season, we New England fans couldn’t wait for hockey to start again. Especially after the powerhouse season the Bruins had last year.
Sure, they didn’t win the Stanley Cup, nor did they defeat the dreaded P.K. Subban and Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs to advance, but they had a season that kept every fan on the edge of his or her seat.
Then this season started.
And it wasn’t the glorious savior we had all thought it may be after a horrific baseball season.
It almost had to be expected. No big, bad Shawn Thornton. No Johnny Boychuk. No Jarome Iginla.
AP Photo / The Canadian Press, Jason Franson
You need a goalscorer, you need an enforcer and you need a strong defenseman.
A goalie is also a vital part of the team. The Bruins’ goalkeeper, Tuukka Rask, can attest to this.
He has started in 48 games and played in 51 this season according to ESPN.
There have been a total of 60 games so far this season. That means Rask has only not played in nine of them.
That can be taxing on anyone’s body.
Rask has accounted for basically all of the Bruins’ defense this season, it seems.
Without him, I feel that the record would be far worse than their (29-22-9) record this season.
Let’s stop for a moment and take a look at the injuries.
David Krejci, recently suffered a partial tear to his MCL that has caused him to be out for four to six weeks.
Krejci expects to be back before playoffs and is working on rehabbing his knee according to the Boston Herald.
The Krejci injury, right before the trade deadline, has caused a bit of a problem for the Bruins and its management.
If the Bruins place Krejci on the long-term injury list, that will give them $5.25 million to work with, but Krejci wants to be able to come back and play when he’s well.
Krejci knows that the management has to do whatever they have to do, according to the Boston Herald.
Luck has not been on Boston’s side, unfortunately.
But any true fan will remain loyal and worry about the upcoming games and work with what Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien have to say.
This season may not be the most interesting or secure, but it does have many loyal New Englander asking, “When is Opening Day?”
Mary Curtin can be contacted at mcurtin@kscequinox.com