Over the last two weeks, the Boston Bruins have turned ’tis the season into Festivus for many New Englanders.
Whatever good mojo they developed from another torrid run in October evaporated over the course of two months. The Bruins appeared bound to exceed expectations in their first year without Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci following an 8-0-1 start, only to limp into the NHL holiday break with their first four-game losing streak since dropping the last four games of their 2020 second-round bubble series in Toronto against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Between the unforced turnovers, ill-timed penalties, relaxed defensive coverage and declining offensive production, the Bruins provided plenty of grievances for their loyal fanbase.