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The Boston Bruins are in the midst of their worst slump of the season, having won just 5 of their last 12 games and coming off of their worst loss in over a year, a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the last-place Buffalo Sabres. It’s a complete turnaround from the dominance that they exhibited during the vast majority of the first half, showing that they were once again the team to beat as they prepare to defend their Stanley Cup title during the postseason.

Although Boston was overtaken by the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference following their head-to-head meeting in late January, the Bruins have owned the best goal differential in the NHL by a wide margin. Their 117 goals against is the third lowest total in the league, an average of just 2.25 per game. But with that average rising by a full goal to 3.25 over the past 12 games, it highlights the fact that the Bruins have gotten away from what they do best — tight defensive hockey.

The team’s scoring has also dropped off, undoubtedly due in part to the absence of first line winger Nathan Horton, who has not played since receiving a hit to the head from the Flyers’ Tom Sestito on January 22. His absence has begun to affect the play of his usual linemates, as David Krejci and Milan Lucic have bounced around a bit as Claude Julien tries to keep things fresh with the absence of his top unit.

Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Bruins any time soon either, as there next two games will come against the Nashville Predators and a rematch with the Rangers, two teams that have clearly established themselves as Cup contenders by playing the same style of hockey that made Boston so successful over the past season and a half. And like everyone else this season, those two clubs will certainly elevate their game against the defending champs.