CBC-Sports

Gut check time for B's

March 25, 2009 07:19 PM | Posted by   Mike Milbury  

The Boston Bruins came out of their funk to defeat the New Jersey Devils last Sunday afternoon in Boston. The bad news for the Bruins is that they got five more days off before their next tilt.

For most of February and March, the Bruins were floundering with a 6-10-3 record and looked more like a bubble team than a Presidents’ Trophy contender.

Lack of effort, grittiness

The win over New Jersey was one of only a few over teams with solid playoff chances during that run and it was much needed. With a stretch of just two games in 12 days, the team took the time off with some regret. It's not often that a team gets so light a schedule at this time of year and it's perhaps even more peculiar that the Bruins really didn't want it.

Prior to the New Jersey win, the Bruins seemed to have lost their confidence and their swagger. Save for Tim Thomas, there was a puzzling lack of effort and grittiness to the Bruins’ game and their once-structured defence was giving the puck away.

Their balanced attack seemed to dry up too. The questions began to take on the tone of desperation … was the Bruins remarkable first half of the season an illusion? Where was the physical passion that marked Boston’s early play? How did a team that played with such composure and resolve become so skittish?

One win doesn’t end a six-week funk, but it was a beginning. (Hence the collective sigh amongst players and fans when the schedule maker handed them another mini-vacation.)

A good look in the mirror

When the Bruins face off against the Leafs on Saturday evening (CBC, 7 p.m. ET), they will be facing not just a pesky Leaf team that despite its dead-end future doesn't want to roll over. The Bruins will also be facing themselves.

Was the Bruins last effort over their chief rival for the conference crown an indication that their doldrums are over or was it just an off night for Martin Brodeur? Saturday’s game will be a test of character and confidence and a measure of Boston’s readiness for the playoffs.

With just over a couple of weeks left in the season, the team that looked like a sure bet to be at least conference finalists faces its stiffest challenger in the stretch run.

And, he’s right there in the mirror.

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