The season has gotten off to a tough start in Boston, where the Bruins are winless and the coach is already under fire. Where do things stand for the B's?

@ESPNJoeMac: Things aren't going well for the Boston Bruins. After Monday's 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden, the Bruins are 0-3 to start the season for the first time since 1999-2000. It's the eighth time in franchise history the Bruins have opened with three straight losses. After the game, coach Claude Julien was asked whether he thinks his job is in jeopardy. "Next question," Julien responded. The Bruins have allowed 16 goals so far and the defense is struggling. Even the return of veteran blueliner and captain Zdeno Chara to the lineup Monday didn't help. The Bruins had a strong start Monday, getting a two-goal lead before the Lightning stormed back en route to victory. "You've got to give Boston credit; they came at us hard," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "That was a team that has lost a couple of home games here, starting off 0-2 and they came at us hard. They deserved that 2-0 lead." Then things fell apart for the Bruins. Sure, it's only three games into the 2015-16 season, but it's already evident this could be a difficult campaign for the Bruins. The last person who should be in question, though, is Julien.

@ESPN_Burnside: Things are certainly ugly early in Boston, Joe. The B's, trying to prove last season's shocking playoff miss was a blip on the radar, have staggered out of the gate, lacking focus and looking like a team without a clue. Twice in the opening week they have been lit up for six goals, including Monday's beatdown. Does team president Cam Neely stand by his coach, or does the team's early play hasten the belief that Julien is coaching on borrowed time right now? If Julien is at the end, then who is best to take his place? And if Julien -- one of the most respected men in the business -- hits the open market, does it affect other struggling teams who might be considering a change?

@CraigCustance: We all knew Julien would be one of the coaches on the hot seat this season, but I thought maybe we'd get to mid-October before it really happened. You said it best, Joe, when you suggested previously that the Bruins season would either go very well or be an absolute disaster. I think we have an inkling where this is headed, but how can anyone pin this on Julien? The erosion of talent in Boston over the past couple of seasons is the problem, not the coach. That defense isn't a playoff defense. Not even close. It's unfair to expect the 38-year-old Chara to be the same player he was at 35. Hey, good thing the Bruins gave up a third-round pick for 7:32 of Zac Rinaldo, whose ice time has decreased each game this season. If I were Julien, perhaps I'd prefer being the first coach fired. That way I'd have my choice of jobs as they inevitably open up, because if Julien becomes available, he'd be the best option out there.

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: On one hand, it seems ridiculous to even mention Julien's job security three games into the season. Then again, this is the scenario the Bruins themselves set up in the offseason, waiting for spring to turn to summer before finally announcing that Julien would be back as coach. I know part of the delay was to allow new GM Don Sweeney to get his bearings and decide for himself on the coach, but it's not as if Sweeney wasn't part of the organization already and didn't know what he had in Julien. Sweeney made the right call in bringing the coach back because I believe a new GM should always keep his first coaching change in his back pocket as long as possible. But the delay in announcing Julien's return sealed everyone's fate this year in terms of the narrative surrounding the team. It screams that the team lacks confidence in the coach. And I agree with the sentiments above: If and when Julien is let go, he will be out of work for about a week before being hired somewhere else.

The Lightning would do well to find a way to keep superstar center Steven Stamkos in a Tampa Bay sweater for his entire career. Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos recorded his career's 500th point in his team's win over the Bruins. There are many unknowns in terms of a possible contract extension for Stamkos, but it's clear the team needs to keep him in the fold. He's important on and off the ice, and he should be one of those players (like current Tampa GM Steve Yzerman, who scored his 500th point for the Detroit Red Wings at age 23) who begins and ends his career with the same team.

• How about this Eichel kid? It's only three games into the 2015-16 season, and Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel has two goals. He scored his second during a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. It was Buffalo's first win of the season. If you haven't seen the highlight of Eichel's goal, make sure you take a moment today to enjoy it.