Where Bruins Must Improve To Defeat Golden Knights Heading Into Break
Boston simply has to shoot more
The Bruins have one more challenge before the 4 Nations break, and interim head coach Joe Sacco’s message was simple: shoot the puck.
“We’re deferring too much at times,” Sacco told reporters after practice at Warrior Ice Arena on Friday, per team-provided video. “I go back to the last game (against the Rangers); we had time in the offensive zone. I give the Rangers some credit. They did a good job defensively. But on the flipside, we didn’t do a good enough job playing off the shot.
“I thought we over-passed sometimes when we could have gotten pucks to the net with two on the inside. For our group, it’s a constant reminder about how we have to play offensively. A little more shot volume. We did that earlier on. I think (we) get away from it sometimes and that’s when we don’t generate enough offense.”
Sacco continued: “And our power play. Our power play had been going OK for a little while, but last game, it didn’t do as well. And that’s an opportunity for us, especially our top guys. When they’re moving the puck well on the power play, they’re building confidence, on 5-on-5, too. But, like I said, it’s a little bit more of a shot mindset, playing off the shot, looking for rebounds, two-for-one opportunities. That’s how we’re going to generate more offense for this group.”
The Bruins were held to just 17 shots on goal against the Rangers, but on the flip side, Boston’s stingy defense limited the Blue Shirts to 22. A recipe the Black and Gold hope to deploy against Vegas.