Up front, the Boston Bruins struggled as much as they did on the back end. Boston only scored 17 goals in the seven games and failed on 25 of 27 power-play opportunities.

The Bruins’ forwards only sporadically did the little things needed to generate playoff offense, as they lost battles along the walls and treated the front of the net like it was a lion’s den for long stretches of the seven-game series.

With that in mind, here is third and final installment of my conference semifinal report card. As always, players are graded relative to their expectations and their role on the team.

P.J. Axelsson
Stats: 7 GP, 0-0-0, minus-4
Grade: C
If this was Axelsson’s swan song in black and gold, it was a poor representation of his contributions to the club over the last decade-plus. The winger didn’t make enough of those subtle plays that usually fuel the Bruins at both ends, and his failed breakaway in Game 4 was a momentum-killer.

Patrice Bergeron
Stats: 7 GP, 0-3-3, plus-1
Grade: B-minus
When the Bruins’ backs were against the wall, Bergeron finally came alive. But for most of the first half of the series he was a spectator in uniform with little jump in his skates. Boston needed Bergeron and his linemates to match Carolina’s ferociousness on the forecheck, but when they finally did that it was too little too late.

Byron Bitz
Stats: 4 GP, 1-0-1, minus-1
Grade: A-minus
What a great lift the rookie gave the Bruins when they needed it most. His physicality and grit were a welcome addition to the lineup. Except for a few moments in Game 7 when he looked like he was trying to do a little too much with the puck, Bitz filled his role perfectly.

Phil Kessel
Stats: 7 GP, 2-3-5, plus-5
Grade: B-minus
As exciting as his two goals in Game 5 were, the Bruins really needed him to bring his best more and he let them down. As much a culprit as the other forwards as far as not paying the price or winning puck fights.

Chuck Kobasew
Stats: 7 GP, 1-2-3,  plus-2
Grade: C-plus
Like Bergeron, it took the winger a few games to get his legs going. His Game 6 goal was huge, but he should’ve been able to do more — especially with some added power-play time. And what was he thinking when he passed up a shot from the high slot with four minutes to go in overtime of Game 7 and instead passed the puck back?

David Krejci
Stats: 7 GP, 0-3-3, even plus/minus
Grade: C-minus
At time he looked overwhelmed by the intensity of the second round, the center was awful in Game 3 and 4, when the series got away from the Bruins. When he finally started to generate some chances, he couldn’t cash in.

Milan Lucic
Stats: 7 GP, 3-3-6, plus-8
Grade: A-minus
You couldn’t really ask more of the winger who was supposed to be the brawn of the first line, not the skill. But he was the goal-scoring and physical presence that awoke the Bruins when down 3-1. He got a little too cute with the puck at times, but considering he was often one of the few forwards playing at a playoff level that was understandable.

Mark Recchi
Stats: 7 GP, 3-2-5, minus-1
Grade: B-minus
Like most of  his linemates, he didn’t kick it in gear until the second half of the series. But word has leaked that he was playing hurt, and he still had shifts where he looked younger than his 41 years.

Michael Ryder
Stats: 7 GP, 1-5-6, minus-1
Grade: C-minus
After a red-hot Montreal series, the sniper went ice cold and that reduced the Bruins to just one scoring line. He and Krejci started to generate more chances late in the series but couldn’t light the lamp when the chips were down.

Marc Savard
Stats: 7 GP, 4-4-8, plus-2
Grade: B-plus
It was a roller-coaster series for the center, who had to play Game 7 with a bad leg. For every goal he scored or set up, he made at least one risky play that ended with the puck  going the other way. And so much of the PP depends on him working his magic that he has to take some of the blame for its failures.

Shawn Thornton
Stats: 6 GP, 0-0-0, minus-2
Grade: B-minus
Just like in the regular season, you would’ve liked to have seen the rugged winger get more bang for his offense-creating buck. But instead he finished with a goose egg. He still worked his rear off and wasn’t a liability, and also got the chance to pulverize Tim Conboy just before Mark Stuart did.

Blake Wheeler
Stats: 4 GP, 0-0-0, even plus/minus
Grade: D
You can make the case that if he’d hit the rookie wall he should’ve been scratched earlier. But Wheeler was just dreadful in all three zones and only managed two shots on net, even after he was moved back into an offensive position alongside Krejci and Ryder.

Stephane Yelle
Stats: 7 GP, 0-0-0, minus-3
Grade: C-plus
Like Thornton, the two-time Cup-winner could’ve saved the day by cashing in on any number of chances while the Krejci line was slumping. But instead all he could do was create momentum, which only got the Bruins so far.