Lack of ‘O’ a problem for Bruins

Props to Rusty of the Illegal Cruve. Earlier this season I predicted the Bruins would be hard pressed to score goals and were stupid not to resign Phil Kessel. I said it was crazy to suggest that Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron were going to pick up the slack left by Kessel. Also, David Krejci has been a disappointment so far this season. Looks like I was right in predicting that the Bruins would be hard pressed to score goals this season.

Key veteran offensive guys - like Marco Sturm, Michael Ryder and Mark Recchi - are posting below-average numbers. Youngsters like David Krejci and Blake Wheeler are not having the kind of years hoped for. The most important offensive player, Marc Savard, has missed almost half the season due to a foot injury and has yet to really get going.

Against the Flyers, Savard had no shots and was a minus-3.

“We’ve got to get better, I’ve got to be better,” Savard said. “I’ve got to start getting results. I’m not getting any of those.”

The obviously frustrated Savard was blaming no one other than himself, but the fact is he needs better wingers to center.

With all due respect to Byron Bitz, as hard-working and honest a player as you’ll find, his stint as a first-liner should be finished. Wheeler hasn’t been able to relocate the scoring touch that produced 21 goals last season.

“That line wasn’t very good for us,” coach Claude Julien said. “Savvy’s got to take some of that responsibility, but it’s not a one-man line. He needs his wingers, and his wingers weren’t there, either. That line was very average for us. It needed to be better.” [Boston Herald]