During a week where the Boston Bruins had a favorable schedule to try and gain ground in the Eastern Conference, the Black and Gold just couldn’t rise to the occasion.

In games with the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Senators and lowly Hurricanes, the B’s came away with five points out of a possible eight at a time where points are at a premium.

One player who did everything he could to will the Black and Gold to victory was Carl Soderberg. Early on in the week when the B’s were already taking a nose dive, word came down that Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic were unable to play against the Red Wings. Well, Soderberg stepped up in a big way scoring a goal and assisting on two others to go along with his plus-3 rating in his team’s 5-2 victory. The 29 year-old followed up that showing with a goal against the Maple Leafs in a shootout loss on New Year’s Eve.

In four games last week, Soderberg contributed with two goals and two assists with a plus-1 rating. He had 12 shots on net while playing key minutes. Even his face-off percentage on the week was impressive after his 40 percent rate against the Red Wings. Against the Maple Leafs, the third-line center won 67 percent of his face-offs while against the Senators and Hurricanes he won 58 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

Soderberg is one of six players on the team that has appeared in all 40 games this season, which is remarkable due to the rash of injuries the B’s  have endured this season. His 27 points is second only to Bergeron who has 28 points in 39 games. His plus-7 rating is tied for second on the team with Kevan Miller trailing only Loui Eriksson and Brad Marchand while his 19 assists only trail Bergeron’s 20 on the year.

One can argue the trio of Soderberg, Eriksson and Chris Kelly has been one of the Black and Gold’s most consistent lines this season. With David Krejci out of the lineup for an extended period of time, this line shouldered the load keeping the B’s heads above water, but they can only do so much if there isn’t a supporting cast.

In the game Sunday afternoon against the Hurricanes, Soderberg was mediocre, but did have three shots on net in a game where his team had 19 on the day.

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Goals have been hard to come by all season for the Black and Gold, but Soderberg has been in most of the offense this season whether it is lighting the lamp or setting up his teammates.

It was a great start to the week highlighted by Soderberg’s play, but the Swede can’t always provide the offensive spark for his team.

For a team that is consistently inconsistent, Soderberg has been one of their better players through the first 40 games of the 2014-2015 season.