BOSTON -- If there was a knock on the Boston Bruins last season, it was the lack of offense from their defense. Their blueliners were reliable in their own end, and although they were game to chip in points, it didn't happen very often and the forwards were forced to carry the bulk of the load.

Two key additions to the roster have changed all that -- Bryan Berard and Jonathan Girard. The offensive abilities of Berard and Girard have allowed the Bruins' stay-at-home defensemen to focus on their strength, instead of trying to be players they aren't.

As a result, the Bruins have been able to improve on both offense and defense. Last season, they were eighth in the league with 2.88 goals scored per game. This year, they are first with 3.57. Last year, they ranked 11th with 2.45 average goals against. This year, they're first with 2.14.

Who are these players responsible for the Bruins being able to absorb the loss of last year's leading goal scorer (Bill Guerin) and top goalie (Byron Dafoe), and the absence of one of their top defensemen (Kyle McLaren)?

	Bryan Berard Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 21 5 6 11 6 16

Bryan Berard
When Berard was attempting his comeback with the Rangers last season, the NHL's favorite dysfunctional club was a good place to start after missing a year and a half as a result of a serious eye injury. Berard played all 82 games, but by his own admission, the long time away slowed his progress as did his body's adjustment to losing most of the vision in one eye.

However, his transformation into a Bruins' uniform has been nothing short of extraordinary. If you didn't know about his well chronicled eye injury, well, you'd never know. Last year, Berard scored two goals. Through 21 games this year, he had five. His blazing speed contributes to an already fast team and he's toned down his high risk moves.

When he came to Boston, coach Robbie Ftorek and assistants Jim Hughes and Wayne Cashman told Berard they liked the excitement he brought to the roster, they'd just like him to be a little less exciting in his own zone. To his credit, Berard has simplified his game, uses his teammates more and the payoff has been enormous for both player and team.

Off the ice, Berard is quiet, self deprecating and exceedingly polite. It's obvious he fits in well with his new club and the Woonsocket, R.I., native quickly is becoming a fan favorite.

	Nick Boynton Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 20 1 4 5 19 23

Nick Boynton
When he was first drafted ninth overall by Washington in 1997, he was a promising junior player. He captained the Ottawa 67s to the Memorial Cup championship in 1999 and was named MVP of the tournament. He never came close to reaching any sort of contract agreement with the Capitals and reentered the draft where he was taken by the Bruins at No. 21 overall.

A diagnosis of juvenile diabetes slowed Boynton's early progress, but he learned to managed his illness as he developed his game with Providence in the American Hockey League for two years. Last season, he played his first full year in the NHL and by the playoffs was Boston's best blueliner.

He picked up right where he left off this year. He has been at or near the top of the league in plus-minus ranking since the first drop of the puck. Through 20 games, he was plus-19 and was averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. All that and he won't turn 24 years old until January 19. He's developed into not only Boston's best defensemen but one of the best in the NHL.

Off the ice, the soft-spoken Boynton is an avid fisherman. He's also very active in teaching local children about living with diabetes, working with the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

	Hal Gill Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 21 2 7 9 14 25

Hal Gill
When Gill first arrived at training camp in the fall of 1997, he stood out because of his remarkable height. At 6-foot-7 in stocking feet, he was impossible to miss. However, it didn't take long for Gill, an quarterback during his high school years, to be noticed for something other than his towering size. He was initially penciled in to play for Providence, where Gill spent four years as a member of the Providence College team. But he made the team his rookie year and was mentored by Ray Bourque.

Gill's strong positional play and long reach have made him a steady contributor. One of the players against whom he has been most effective is Jaromir Jagr. Gill has been giving Jagr fits for years. Gill said he doesn't get up for Jagr more than for any other player, but he views it as a special challenge to shut the five-time scoring champion down.

Now 27, Gill is one of the Bruins' workhorses.

Off the ice, Gill has one of the sharpest wits on the team. He's also very active in the community.

	Jonathan Girard Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 21 3 5 8 7 10

Jonathan Girard
He may be only 22 years old, but it seems as if Jonathan Girard has been around forever. Since he was drafted by the Bruins in 1998 (No. 48 overall), the organization has been committed to bringing him along slowly. After spending parts of the last three seasons in Providence, this year Girard has shown all the promise the club saw in him as a youngster.

When coach Robbie Ftorek was meeting with Girard last fall, Girard surprised him by saying he wasn't ready to play in the NHL. Usually it's the coach telling the player he's not there yet but in this case, Girard was honest to say he felt he needed another year of development in the minors. He got it, and along with honing his excellent offensive skills, he became much more proficient in his own end. In 21 games, Girard has eight points, three of them goals, and is a plus-7. Where his lack of confidence was notable during his early games in the NHL, he's become a completely different player. He wants the puck, whether it be to carry it or shoot it, and he's playing with the authority and confidence of someone ready to be an impact guy.

Off the ice, the Joliette, Quebec, native is a very polite, but quiet presence in the dressing room.

	Sean O'Donnell Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 21 0 3 3 9 22

Sean O'Donnell
After a rollercoaster 2000-01 season that started in Minnesota, where he was the Wild's first captain, ended in New Jersey and was followed by his wedding in Los Angeles, O'Donnell arrived in Boston as an unrestricted free agent. He has provided leadership, stability and experience to the blueline corps. The 31-year-old Ottawa native played 80 games for the Bruins last season, establishing a career season-high in assists (22) and points (25).

One of the reasons he was able to do that was his presence on the power play, a role he hadn't fulfilled on a full-time basis much in his career, but was forced to assume because of the team's lack of puck-moving defensemen. With Berard, Boynton and Girard, stay-at-homers such as O'Donnell, Gill and Don Sweeney are slotted better and don't feel the pressure to perform offensively.

Off the ice, O'Donnell is married to actress Allison Dunbar, who gave up a successful TV career to make the move to Boston. She has continued to work, setting her sights on the theater and recently completed a run as one of the lead characters in the play "Jerusalem."

	Don Sweeney Defense Boston Bruins Profile
	2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM G A PTS +/- PIM 20 0 2 2 2 8

Don Sweeney
At 36, Sweeney is the classy elder statesman of the group. The Harvard-educated blue liner -- an eighth-round draft pick in 1984 -- was not expected to play a single game in the NHL. Although he had exceptional skating ability, he was thought by some to be just too small. This season, he became just the 180th player in league history to reach the 1,000-game milestone.

At 5-10, 186 pounds, he is compact, but he's has been among the NHL's best hitters his entire career. He's also been remarkably durable. Since earning a full-time spot on the roster during the 1990-91 season, he has played in 93.8 percent of Boston's games.

Off the ice, Sweeney is a devoted father of twin boys. He jokes that he never expected to marry someone who's a better skater than he is. His wife, Christine, is a former professional figure skater. He's also the team's most likely choice for "Phone a Friend" in the portable game of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.