8 noteworthy stats from Bruins’ first five games of 2024-25 season

A fourth-line scoring surge and lackluster netfront coverage have been noteworthy developments for the Bruins through five games.

The 2024-25 Bruins season is in full swing, with Boston currently holding a 3-2-0 record following Wednesday’s 5-3 win over the Avalanche.

Given the amount of turnover across the depth chart for Boston, it was to be expected for there to be some growing pains for the Bruins this fall.

But even with two losses doled by the Panthers, this Bruins team has already been bolstered by some unexpected contributors.

Here are eight stats and trends that have stood out over the Bruins’ first five games, highlighting both the growth of an evolving roster and flaws that must be corrected.

12 goals scored per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play for Kastelic line

Just how dominant has Boston’s fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, and Cole Koepke been this season?

According to Evolving Hockey, the trio is averaging an absurd 12 goals scored over a projected 60 minutes of 5-on-5 action — with Boston currently outscoring opponents, 8-0, over their 40 minutes of 5-on-5 reps so far this season.

That 12.0 GF/60 is far and away the best scoring rate for any forward line in the NHL, followed by Jonathan Huberdeau’s line in Calgary (8.67 GF/60), Jack Eichel’s line in Las Vegas (8.59) and the grouping of Anton Lundell, Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen (7.7) in Florida.

Through five games, this grouping of Beecher, Kastelic, and Koepke has been the best line in hockey — combining for six goals and 15 points out of the gate, all while only having 34.6 percent of their faceoffs set in the offensive zone at 5-on-5 play.

While the Bruins have tallied eight 5-on-5 goals when the Kastelic line has been out on a shift, there have been 17 teams across the NHL who haven’t even scored eight 5-on-5 goals all season.

This scoring surge may not be sustainable for Boston’s fourth line. But if this trio continues to play with pace, win puck battles, and operate below the goal line, this bottom-six grouping could be the best checking unit in the league.

-0.4 goals saved above expected for Jeremy Swayman

Jeremy Swayman was one of the best goalies in the NHL last season as far as snuffing out Grade-A scoring chances, ranking fourth in the league in goals saved above expected at 18.4 (per MoneyPuck).

But after logging zero reps with the Bruins in both training camp and preseason play amid his contract negotiations, Boston’s franchise goalie has been understandably rusty out of the gate.

Beyond his .893 save percentage through three appearances, Swayman’s goals saved above expected rate is -0.4 (in essence, he’s allowed more goals than expected when measured against the quality of shots and scoring chances generated by opponents).

That -0.4 rate currently ranks 35th in the NHL to start the year, with Joonas Korpisalo 40th overall with a -0.9 rate.

The Bruins believe that they have a franchise goalie locked up long term via Swayman’s new eight-year, $66 million contract. But it might take some time for him to settle into a groove this season.

-2.59 expected goal differential at 5-on-5 play

One of the few concerning developments out of the gate for Boston has been its malleable defensive zone coverage. According to MoneyPuck, Boston ranks 28th in the NHL with 10.72 expected goals against at 5-on-5 play.

It’s a discouraging spot to be in, given that a high expected goals rate paints the picture of a defense prone to surrendering Grade-A chances and other high-danger scoring chances around their goaltender.

Oftentimes, expected goals don’t necessarily correlate with tangible goals etched on the scoresheet — especially if you’ve got a stout goalie capable of turning aside the quality chances sprouting up in front of him.

But given Swayman’s aforementioned pedestrian start, the Bruins have been burned in the early going off of poor netfront coverage and lackluster defending on the rush.

Add in Boston’s uneven output of quality 5-on-5 chances generated in the offensive zone (8.13 expected goals), and the Bruins’ -2.59 expected goal differential ranks 31st out of 32 NHL clubs to start the season.

32 penalties

The Bruins have spent far too much time in the sin bin, with Boston currently first in the NHL as of Thursday night with 32 penalties through five games. It’s been a point of consternation for Jim Montgomery, who called out his team after they were knocked for five penalties against Florida on Monday.

Boston’s beefed-up roster is expected to dole out some punishment this year, but the Bruins have been far too undisciplined out of the gate. Nikita Zadorov in particular has spent a lot of time in the penalty box — with the 6-foot-6 defenseman getting whistled a league-high seven times over these five games.

Add in that Boston’s penalty-kill unit has been largely average (80.0 percent) so far this year, and the Bruins have been playing with fire when it comes to the team’s trips to the penalty box.

18.2 percent success rate on power play

While the Bruins have been no stranger to uneven 5-on-5 scoring over the past decade, those shortcomings were usually balanced out by a potent power play capable of keeping Boston in most of its matchups.

But after sputtering last postseason against Florida (1-for-16, 14 shots on goal over 26:19 of ice time), the Bruins’ man advantage has once again struggled to find traction to start the year. Their 18.2 percent success rate is currently 20th in the NHL.

Boston’s man advantage remains deadly with David Pastrnak in place, but he went 27 straight games without a power-play tally from March 7 to May 8 last season.

The Bruins will need more than just Pastrnak’s one-timer to prop up their power play, with Elias Lindholm (five points in five games) posting encouraging returns at the “bumper” spot.

4 points for Mason Lohrei since getting scratched

Mason Lohrei’s unique blend of size and playmaking skill from the blue line should have him poised for a breakout season in 2024-25.

But the 23-year-old defenseman will also have to deal with some growing pains, as was put on display during his lackluster game against Florida during Boston’s season-opening loss at Amerant Bank Arena.

Since getting scratched from Boston’s home opener against Montreal on Oct. 10, Lohrei has responded. Over his last three games, Lohrei has posted four points — lighting the lamp on Monday against Florida before setting up Charlie Coyle’s power-play tally on Wednesday with a slick feed.

The Bruins will have to trudge through some of the expected peaks and valleys that come with several younger players trying to find their footing in the NHL. Boston will be watching to see how Matt Poitras responds after logging just 8:23 of ice time in Wednesday’s win.

No 5-on-5 points for Boston’s second line

There are seven players on Boston’s roster who have yet to record a point at 5-on-5 play so far this season. Three of them — Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand, and Morgan Geekie — opened the year as Boston’s second-line trio.

While Boston’s fourth line has done plenty of heavy lifting on offense out of the gate, the Bruins are going to need its second line to start landing some punches in the O-zone. While Marchand (two points) and Coyle (one goal) have at least cashed in on the power play, Geekie remains scoreless through four games.

31 shot attempts from Hampus Lindholm

Drawing more offense from the blue line has been a priority for Montgomery and his staff this season, especially given some of the turnover up front for Boston. So far, it seems like Boston’s D corps has heeded their head coach’s message.

While Pastrnak understandably ranks first on the Bruins with 40 shot attempts through five games, he’s followed by a pair of defensemen in Hampus Lindholm (31) and Charlie McAvoy (23).

Lindholm’s shot-first mentality is a welcome sight, with the veteran blueliner currently eighth in the NHL among D-men in shot attempts. (Former Bruin Dougie Hamilton leads the way in New Jersey with a whopping 51 shot attempts).

As showcased during Game 7 against the Maple Leafs last May or even in Wednesday’s matchup against Colorado, good things happen when Lindholm puts pucks on net.

An assertive Lindholm should further elevated a dynamic Bruins D corps that has already generated five goals and 18 points so far this year.

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.