Bruins forward making excuses for terrible start to the year

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Joshua Deeds
November 28, 2024 (11:44)

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The Boston Bruins looked like a team destined for greatness last season. Since they began the 2024-2025 season, it looks like the fates have other plans for them, as multiple forwards have been in a slump.

One of them is forward Morgan Geekie who the Bruins signed during free agency in July 2023. He put his best foot forward under former head coach Jim Montgomery posting a career-high 39 points last season.

But this year, he's struggled to produce, along with other Bruins forwards. What's even more concerning is there's been little improvement, since Joe Sacco was made interim coach.

«Pucks aren't going in. Feels like I'm snakebitten. I feel like everyone could say the same thing,» Geekie told Adam Pellerin on the latest episode of NESN's «The Hockey Hub» podcast.

New Coach Joe Sacco has placed him on the 2nd line, with Pavel Zacha centering Geekie, and David Pastrnak.

While the Bruins have seemed to improve a smidgen, scoring three goals in three games under Sacco, there's still room to grow.

«But you see the chances, they're coming,» Geekie said. «And like I said earlier, they're going to come in waves. Somebody is going to break the ice for us and things are going to start going in. It's just about, at least for us, keeping on the gas and being able to make those plays even though you might not finish them - at least you're getting chances. I was always taught getting chances and not scoring on them is not a problem, it's when you stop getting those chances and stop creating opportunities is when (you) should make a change or something like that.»

The Bruins did outshoot the Vancouver Canucks, by a margin of 32-14 which is significant. They would still give up two goals and would be shut out by the Rick Tocchet-led squad.

While the offensive opportunities have shown themselves, the team has yet to become a team of finishers.

Despite their struggles, according to MoneyPuck the Geekie-Zacha-Pastrnak is the best line in XG% on the Bruins with 74.5%. The line was on the ice for 3.8 goals for, and 1.3 goals against which is what analytics nerds and coaches want to see.

If you're a team who wants to control the ice and thrive offensively you want XG% above 50%.

Geekie needs to quit making excuses for his lack of finishing abilities and take advantage of the fact, that they're the best line for the Bruins right now.