Boston Bruins: Snowed In By a Shootout.

Jan 21, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view during the third period between the Boston Bruins and the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins should have won last night in Colorado. Unfortunately, a literal last second goal by Jarome Iginla and a few missed opportunities caused the game to be tied in regulation. The Boston Bruins fell to the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout last night. The final score was 3-2. While the score did show a loss for the Black and Gold, last night’s game showcased the resurgence of part of the Bruins special teams squad. The Bruins penalty killers shut down the Avalanche power play all night. The B’s took three straight penalties in the second period, and were able to hold out against two separate 5-0n-3 penalty kills.

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All the extra effort put in by the Bruins is part of the reason why they seemed so flat in the final period. The Bruins just seemed to have run out of gas in the final twenty minutes and were handily outshot 15-5 by a younger Colorado squad that looked clearly fresher than the B’s. The Bruins statistically haven’t done very well in the second game on back-to-back nights either. They’re now 2-5-2 in that situation.

The Bruins have vastly improved since Zdeno Chara and David Krejci have returned to the line-up.  During the month of January, the Black and Gold have gone 38-for-40 (95%) on killing power plays. This has taken a once anemic penalty kill back into relevance and given the Bruins a measure of respect in the NHL. The Bruins are now ranked 12th in the league with a 82.8 penalty kill percentage.

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While Chara and Krejci have been big parts of the revitalized PK, several new players have stepped up as well. Dougie Hamilton has seen more time on the penalty kill.  He also earned his first career fighting major in that game. Craig Cunningham has also been a really nice addition to special teams. It’s been a good year for Cunningham who seems to be the winner of the Bruins’ fourth line sweepstakes.

Now the Bruins get to take a little time off for the All-Star break. Only Patrice Bergeron will be representing Boston this year. He’s certainly the statistical favorite for the Selke so far this year. This will give the team a chance to take a few days off and be ready for the final push as the B’s try to secure themselves a top three playoff spot in the Atlantic.