Lots of pressure fall on Bruins’ Hall’s shoulders…

We bet the Boston Bruins expected way more from forward Taylor Hall after acquiring him last season and signing him to a four-year, $24 million contract in the summer.

As insider Fluto Shinzawa for the Athletic points out: “So has the two-goal Sabre punted out of Buffalo become the expectation? Or will the 2018 MVP be back at some point?”

The Bruins get back to action on Saturday, and Hall confided to NHL.com that he used the break to evaluate his game. Clearly, he is aware that his five goals in 26 games (and only one five-on-five goal) is not meeting the brief.

“If I can just work on it in practice and make it habitual to be more of a driver myself with shots to the net, plays to the net, with taking the puck myself to the net, those are little things that over the course of 10 days, your mind always drifts back to hockey and what can you do better. I think that’s something I’m trying to work on here and try to get into my game a lot more these last 56 games.”

While head coach Bruce Cassidy blames the inconsistency in line mates for Hall’s lack of production, Shinzawa makes fans realize that a lot of pressure is falling on Hall’s shoulders for the remainder of the season.

The insider is even wondering if Hall is feeling the same confidence issues he once experienced in Buffalo.

“Upon arriving from Buffalo last season, Hall acknowledged his confidence was shot. Something similar may be happening again.”

Hall reportedly used the pause to recenter his attention and Bruins’ fans hope he also found his confidence again.