Boston Bruins: No Margin For Error, Losing Streak At Five
By Andrew Dulac
Boston Bruins: No margin for error as Bruins losing streak is at a season high-five games with only seven games remaining before the playoffs begin.
The Boston Bruins lost to the Florida Panthers 4-1 last night at home to extend their losing streak to five-games, which gives themselves only a one-point cushion for the third playoff spot in the division. They got no help from their friends north of the border last night as the Canadiens lost 4-3 to the Red Wings last night who still are currently out of the playoffs. If the Bruins don’t start collecting points soon, the playoffs will be a laughable after thought come April.
A 2-2 game is much different from a 3-1 game. The Bruins appeared to (they did) score the equalizer on a Patrice Bergeron wrap-around attempt late in the third period. The goal went to a lengthy review and the Bruins came out on the wrong end of an arguably no brainer type call. Instead, a few minutes later, the Bruins get caught with a to many men call that put Florida on a power play that provided some insurance for the Panther’s win.
Two straight nights now the Bruins have had goals taken away from them because of the “inconclusive evidence” rule that the NHL has in place. I understand, but do not agree with, the call the other night in New York. Yes, you can’t see the puck across the goal line so you can’t call it a goal but, you can see the puck just before it went into Henrik Lundqvists‘s glove. When the puck enters the glove and has been officially stopped dead, Lundqvist’s gloves is in the net beyond the goal line and common sense says, “Wow, that is a goal.”
Last night’s call was awful. The post is like width of the goal line and that puck was clearly past the post. You could see it and you could see when it came back outward toward the crease when the refs blew the play dead. Patrice Bergeron knew it was in, hence him putting his arms in the air. Bergeron is the type of guy who doesn’t throw his hands into the air on an obvious no goal call that he knows will go to a review anyway.
Aside from that, the Bruins played awful last night. Personally, I liked the first 20-minutes. They played aggressive and the pace of play was in their favor. Beleskey fired pucks from everywhere and threw his body into anyone and everything. If this team makes the playoffs, that’s exactly the type of player we need. He could be the physical presence and bring the intensity Lucic used to bring because this team desperately needs it.
Just like the game in Florida a few week ago, the Bruins slowly started getting outplayed and let the Panthers take control of the game in the second period. Ryan Spooner scored to make it 1-0 but the Panthers responded with goals from Reilly Smith (remember him?) and Vincent Trocheck The third period was starting to get better until that no goal call was made. Right then and there, the Bruins fight seemed lost and an easy avoidable penalty proved to be the dagger in the heart the Panthers needed to officially seal the deal.
Watching the effort of this team lately has been embarrassing. Regardless of calls going their way or not, the fight is not there. They are not fore-checking, they’re turning pucks over everywhere, and look to be just going through the motions. It seems like the few games the show some fight and some effort, they show it when it’s already to late. They fall behind to the Kings 2-0 and then wake up. Play a decent second period against the Ducks, and collapse in the third. There is just no consistency with the group and they’re resembling last years club more and more each game.
The Bruins need to win some games now. If this losing streak continues, it will be nearly impossible for this team to sneak into the postseason without any help from the Islanders, Flyers, and Red Wings. Their next two games come against non-playoff teams in Toronto and New Jersey. These games are must-win and if they can’t manage to even sneak a way with one point from either of these games, the season is over.
Next: Bruins Robbed of Goal by NHL
The Bruins will be desperate for points and are fighting for their post season lives on this four game road trip. Whether the Bruins continue to not get calls going their way or not, the Bruins need to show up with much better efforts and fight in their game.