Boston Bruins get called out for their undisciplined play to begin the season

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Austin Sabourin
October 25, 2024 (11:37 PM)

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The Boston Bruins have been called out for their undisciplined play to begin the season resulting in many losses.

The Boston Bruins have started the 2024-25 season with a 3-4-1 record, and one issue that's standing out is the high number of penalties they're taking. In just eight games, the Bruins have racked up 44 minor penalties, leading the league in this stat. Their penalty kill sits at a 77.5% success rate, with nine goals allowed on the power play.

On a recent episode of NESN's «The Hockey Hub» podcast, Bruins analyst Andy Brickley and host Adam Pellerin took a closer look at this discipline problem.

«It's tough for the coaches to deal with,» Brickley commented. «It's really frustrating. You have to be smarter and avoid unnecessary penalties, especially when you're far from your own net.»

Brickley noted that while some penalties happen after big, aggressive plays, which teammates can understand, others, like interference or tripping in the offensive zone, can be particularly frustrating.

«When you take a penalty like that, it can feel really demoralizing, and if the opponent scores on the power play, it's even worse,» Brickley explained. «The Bruins have been taking too many penalties in bad situations, and that's something they need to clean up with better discipline. Discipline can be as simple as managing line changes or being mindful about how you handle the puck.»

Brickley also humorously mentioned that teams used to deal with discipline differently back in the day, hinting that a little «old-school» motivation might help.

Do you think Jim Montgomery is to blame for this?