Will it end soon? Probably not. In fact, if their goaltending softens, it could get a whole lot worse. For the present, and for most of November, maybe even a part of December, the focus of 2009-10 is on Lucic’s broken finger and Savard’s broken foot. Cups? It all about casts right now.

“We have to find ways to score some goals,’’ said Claude Julien after last night’s 2-1 loss to New Jersey, the coach making note of the significant absences. “That doesn’t help.’’

Without Lucic and Savard in the lineup, we’ll see a lot more of what we saw last night, a Boston team that can compete, stay close, work hard, but most nights be unable to gain the needed separation over the course of 60 or 65 minutes to pull away with a victory. They played a strong, smart, and efficient 60 minutes last night, outshot the Devils ever so slightly (32-31), but ended up getting trimmed by a New Jersey squad that was without one of its biggest difference makers in Patrik Elias (yet to suit up this season).

“Hard-fought game, could have gone either way,’’ said Boston blue liner Derek Morris. “I’m disappointed by the outcome, but we stuck with the program and they stuck with the program. They play a lot like us. And look at their big line [Dainius Zubrus with Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner] . . . I don’t think they carried it over the blue line all night. They had to keep shooting it in and chasing it . . . but in the end, they got rewarded with a couple of bounces.’’

For the most part, the two clubs spent the night in similar rush-and-retreat mode, making for an endless back-and-forth of decent breakouts (compliments to the defensive pairings on both sides) that often didn’t materialize into shots on net or sustained pressure. Rush. Shoot. Retreat. Reverse the flow. Rush. Shoot. Retreat. And repeat.

It wasn’t horrible hockey. There was no lack of effort from either side. Some decent goaltending by both Tim Thomas and former Brown University standout Yann Danis, with Thomas forced to make more quality stops than Danis. The Bruins attempted more shots (59-47), but the Devils made more out of less, and not only when it came time to count the tallies (David Clarkson and the winner by Zubrus vs. the lone Boston strike by Patrice Bergeron).

“I think the direction we are leaning in is right,’’ said Thomas, each time beaten by doorstep swat-ins, including the Zubrus winner that came after Langenbrunner’s shot from the right side was deflected by Parise and trickled behind the Boston goalie. “People are moving their legs. Guys are playing physical . . . going to the net. We are doing good things.’’

Take that effort and mix in the likes of Lucic and Savard, and presto, the raw material should show some significant finish. An obvious starting point would be the power play, which took an 0 for 2 last night and is now 1 for 12 over the last five games. Over the first five games this season, the Bruins were awarded 29 power plays. Yes, they struggle when they get the power play, but they obviously aren’t moving their feet enough or playing with enough edge for the opposition to foul them. They don’t keep the puck long enough, or pose enough threat while in possession, for the opposition to get all that hot ’n’ bothered. Why put the carbon (nee wood) to anyone in Black and Gold if they likely aren’t a threat to score?

“I can’t say I am disappointed in the way we played,’’ said Julien, “but I am disappointed in the outcome.’’

That’s the equivalent of the oft-quoted Foxborough phrase, “It is what it is’’. Call-ups such as Brad Marchand and Vladimir Sobotka can up the spunk factor, but they can’t replace Lucic’s brand of jam or Savard’s Potteresque wizardry with the puck. Just not going to happen.

Meanwhile, Julien needs to plumb more out of some of his remaining large assets, namely Zdeno Chara (without a goal this season), Michael Ryder (1-1 -2 in the last six games), and the yet-to-get-’er-going Dennis Wideman (0-0 -0 in his five games since Oct. 8). That’s about $15.5 million in high-end labor that’s not getting even middle-of-the road results. Sure, those three are impacted by the absences of Lucic and Savard, but at some point they have to turn themselves into difference makers.

“It is coming around,’’ said a patient Julien, when asked about his club’s identity thus far in a season after it had 116 points and led the Eastern Conference. “There are a lot of things that have to happen. There are a couple of our top-end players that are not at the top of their game yet.’’

It’s early. Not a snowflake has stuck to the ground. A lot of hockey left to play. But while bones are being mended, and some healthy bodies remain in limbo, valuable points are being lost. Come playoff time, those points could be difference makers.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.