How the Wings Can Beat the Bruins: A Look at 6 Key Bruins Losses

How the Wings Can Beat the Bruins: A Look at 6 Key Bruins Losses

Well, boys, you hustled hard out there, and it all paid off! Members of the Detroit Griffins, managed to earn a spot in the playoffs and keep one of the proudest streaks in professional sports alive. Way to go!! Now, now, before you get too excited, here comes the fun part--you get to play Boston!! What? Where are you going? Quit hiding behind Zetterberg's beard. There's still a chance yet! In fact, they had 6 non-shootout losses from January through March this year. And you only have to beat them four times! This time of year is when rivalries are forged and heroes are made. Here's the blueprint for success against the Bruins.

The Battle of Penalties Must Be Won

In half of Boston’s 6 losses, the winning team took fewer penalties. Of the remaining 3, the penalties were even. Only one team managed to win while losing the penalty battle, the St. Louis Blues. Let the Blues be the outlier. Get the B-Men off their game and in the box early and often.

Win the Faceoff Battle As Well

            4 of 6 teams that beat Boston also won the majority of their faceoffs, which is nothing to sneeze at considering Bergeron's impressive 58.6% win rate while leading the league in faceoff wins. Having Pavel Datsyuk back in the lineup should help in that regard, but Legwand, Sheahan, Helm, and Glendening will have to step up their faceoff games if the Wings are looking to put their best chance forward.

  

Shut Down Krejci-Lucic-Iginla Line

4 of 5 teams contained them to 6 or fewer shots, below their average for the year. Lucic was out against Anaheim, Krejci-Iginla held to 3 shots total. Scored 55 on ice together, 77 total. Nearly 1/3 of teams total goal production. Only two goals in 6 losses overall. Assisted on two others (4pts in 6). Bottom line--these a**holes need to calm down! Stick Glendening on Krejci all night and see what happens. Good things, my friends. Good things.

Keep Jimmy on His Game

            In 4 of 6 Boston losses, opposing goalies saved shots at or above league average. What's more, in all 6 Boston losses the winning team's starting goalie had a higher save percentage. This isn't too surprising, considering the Bruins typically outshoot their opponents, 

Rattle Tuukka Rask

            In all 6 losses, Tuukka saved below league average. Heck, in most of these losses, Tuukka was downright awful, being relieved by Chad Johnson twice. If there's one thing the Wings can do to win, it's to take a quality-over-quantity approach to Oh, speaking of Chad, he's been pretty great in Tuukka's place, hasn't he? Fear not, for he too has proven his mortality, losing his start against Buffalo back in February. Buffalo! Let's face it--if Buffalo can beat these guys, anyone can.

But will they? Well, that's a different beast entirely. With Zetterberg ruled out for the first two games, the Wings will have to depend on some good old fashioned puck luck to challenge the black and gold. Oh, by the way, welcome to the Eastern Conference!