Bruins have a clear answer to the contender question

David Pastrnak and the Bruins are 13-4-1, and NHL Network is asking whether Boston is a contender or a pretender.

Nate Thompson and Mike Kelly weighed in on #NHLTonight, and the debate itself says plenty about where this team sits. Last Saturday, we wrote about David Pastrnak's depth-built Bruins run, and the story has only gotten stronger since.

The record answers the first half of the question. Boston has 27 points, which is 4th in the NHL and 1st in the Atlantic Division.

The goal differential backs it up at +27, with 68 goals for and 41 against. Marco Sturm's group is also 8-1-0 at home, so opponents are not getting much out of the building.

The Bruins are 7-2-1 over their last 10 and have won four straight, the latest a 4-1 result over Florida on Sunday.

Plenty of teams run hot for two weeks. Boston has done it long enough that the question has moved from "is this real" to "how far can it go."

NHL Media framed the debate as contenders or pretenders, with Thompson and Kelly in the middle of it.

Are the Bruins real contenders or just hot?

Real, and the evidence goes beyond the top line. Pastrnak leads the team with 24 points, 8 goals and 16 assists, which is what everyone expects.

The better sign is who sits behind him. Elias Lindholm has 15 points, and the scoring is not hanging on one player.

Then there is the defense. Conor Ryan pointed out that Will Borgen ranks 491st of 577 skaters in offensive-zone start percentage among those with at least 100 minutes at 5v5.

Conor Ryan noted that the Bruins have still outscored opponents 19-4 with Borgen on the ice at 5v5.

Borgen starts his shifts in the tough spots and comes out ahead anyway. A team that wins those minutes is not a pretender, and that kind of defensive work rarely shows up in a power ranking.

The next test comes Thursday at home against Montreal. The Canadiens are 11-3-4, sit second in the Atlantic with 26 points, and lost 2-1 in overtime to Minnesota on Tuesday. One point separates the two teams in the division.

Quick hits

WASHINGTON CAPITALSAlexander Ovechkin tied Nicklas Backstrom for the most assists in Capitals history Tuesday night. Washington beat Ottawa 3-2 in overtime.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSJim Hiller didn't dodge it after the 6-3 loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday night. The coach said the team's record is deserved, and that's a blunt message.

TRADE BUZZBeat writer Stefen Rosner expects Islanders GM Mathieu Darche to call the Flyers about Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny. That's a long list.

EDMONTON OILERSJason Gregor expects Tristan Jarry to start Wednesday against the Flyers, and he says a practice clue backs it up.

NEW JERSEY DEVILSWinnipeg fans turned on Connor Hellebuyck tonight, even though the Devils goalie isn't playing against his old team. Odd scene.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.