from Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald,

So while the B’s have long carried a reputation as a strong defensive team, in recent years they’ve also usually been quite proficient on offense, too. This year, things are out of kilter on both sides of the puck, as the team ranks just 14th defensively (2.57 GAA), while having a tough time scoring more than two a game. In their last 14 outings, thy have lit the lamp just 29 times.

By almost any metric, the Bruins are having a highly unusual season. Their power play, which ranked third last season (20.5 percent), is 17th now, at 17.4; their shooting percentage of 8.2 ranks 24th; their penalty-killing, normally a strength for this group, is 21st (79 percent).

We knew going into the season that, with the losses of winger Jarome Iginla and defenseman Johnny Boychuk, this team might take a step back. But with the departures and the injuries, there’s been an across-the-board slip.

So while Chiarelli certainly wants to see more pucks going in, that is not the only area that needs improvement.

“That (scoring) is not the only issue here,” Chiarelli said. “We have to play better. I feel we probably have to make a couple of changes. But the last thing I want to do is force something. So, we’re patient. I don’t like losing. But there’s no magic potion here — whether it’s in a player, whether it’s getting back to basics, whether it’s personnel-wise or whether it’s playing-wise.”

more