Bruins Can't Take Improved Arizona Coyotes Lightly
By Matt Dolloff (@mattdolloff)
BOSTON (CBS) -- Four games into the Boston Bruins regular season, it's hard to get a gauge on where the team is at in relation to the rest of the league. Are they the inexperienced, disjointed bunch whose porous defense allowed 16 goals in an 0-3 start? Or are they the heavy, intense pack of bullies that unleashed a 6-goal barrage on the struggling but talented Colorado Avalanche?
The truth lies somewhere in the middle. The Bruins have too much core talent and too good of a coach to allow as many goals as they have in 4 games over the course of a full season, but they also lack the offensive firepower to consistently bury pucks like they did in Denver.
The Bruins head to Phoenix on Saturday to take on the Arizona Coyotes, who are off to a 3-1 start and will be coming off their first loss of the season, 4-3 at Minnesota. The Coyotes finished last season with the second-worst record in the NHL at 24-50-8. They finished 29th in goals (170) and 28th in goals against (272) - an incredible -102 goal differential.
But don't take Arizona lightly - the Bruins are facing a much-improved team on Saturday.
The Coyotes' overall philosophy is catered to the way the league is trending, putting more emphasis on speed and playing a fast game in all three zones, not just on offense. And it's easier for coach Dave Tippett to install such a system with young stars like Max Domi and Anthony Duclair in the fold.
Domi, the 12th overall pick in the 2013 draft, is off to a hot start in his rookie season with 3 goals and 3 assists in the Coyotes' first four games. He's a fast, aggressive player with great hands and intensity to match. If his third goal of the season Thursday night against Minnesota is any indication, his skills could present significant problems on the Bruins' backend.
Duclair, whom the Rangers dealt to Arizona last year as part of the Keith Yandle trade, is a dynamic winger with a powerful shot. He recorded a hat trick in his third game with the Coyotes, in just 15:28 of ice time. The Bruins' forwards will have to be at their best to keep up with who Coyotes broadcasters are calling "The Killer D's".
There's not much you can do about a saucer pass like this:
Arizona is not only improved on offense. They have looked better in their own end as well, highlighted by a strong bounce-back season (so far) from goalie Mike Smith. Offseason acquisition Nicklas Grossmann has helped tremendously on the backend, clearing the front of the net and giving Smith easier looks to stop pucks. And stalwart blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson continues to anchor Arizona in all phases of the game.
The Bruins have shown struggles dealing with speedy, skilled teams, as in the Montreal Canadiens for the past two years and the second game of this season. They may be working toward a more up-tempo style, but they ultimately can't keep up with the speed of most teams and likely not that of Arizona's top forwards. And if the defense turns the puck over in the neutral zone like they have in their first four games, the Coyotes could feast on the scoring chances they get from them.
The Bruins, however, could have some advantages over Arizona in this game. They are tougher and more experienced (even on defense) than the Coyotes, and could use their physicality to slow down and maybe even intimidate the Coyotes' less experienced skaters - although that didn't work for the physical Los Angeles Kings or Anaheim Ducks. And while Smith has played very well in net for the Coyotes, the team has given up a ton of shots - 123 in four games - so even the Bruins should be able to generate a ton of scoring chances.
Whatever happens Saturday night, just don't treat the Coyotes like a walkover. They could be the real deal as a contender in the Western Conference. If the Bruins lose they aren't dead, and if they win it would be a legit achievement that shouldn't be scoffed at like it would have been last season.
The Bruins may not be a contender this season, but they're not a basement-dweller either. And a tough game against a much-improved Coyotes team should be no cause for panic.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.