Dec 19, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Boston Bruins defenceman
Torey Krug(47) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins let simple mistakes plague them all night. The B’s missed opportunities and wide open nets on offense, and it was clear Tuukka Rask was having an off night. In the end, the Winnipeg Jets made the best of the chances presented, and former AHL Bruin Michael Hutchinson closed the door on the Bruins. The B’s finish out the road trip with a disappointing 2-1 loss.
Here are the big talking points from tonight’s game.
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(Nearly) Everyone Is To Blame For The Loss. While Tuukka Rask certainly wasn’t on point tonight, practically every one of the Bruins (and the coach) share the blame in this one. Loui Eriksson missing a freebee on Hutchinson. Daniel Paille with a solid chance. Missed pucks. Claude Julien using Gregory Campbell as his sixth man when he pulled Rask. Little decisions that added up to the Bruins losing two points they should have been able to steal from Winnipeg.
Puck Prose
Torey Krug was on point tonight. Torey Krug had a solid eighteen minutes on the ice. While he started off rough by getting a penalty for putting over the glass just twenty-four seconds in, he did what he needed to do after that. He joined the Kelly rush and was able to get the rebound to give the B’s their only tally of the night. He did his job as a blueliner, and he played with more confidence in the attacking zone than some of the forwards did. He should have been tonight’s third (or maybe even second) star of the night.
The B’s should have won this one. The Bruins were the better team in the second and third periods. Once again, the B’s miss chances and allow an average goaltender to have a good night. Granted, Hutchinson plays well against his former organization. Still, the B’s should have just kept throwing pucks on the net and they would have found the space to get the goals and the points.
Another disappointing road trip. The Bruins could have used this road trip to make up some ground and solidify their standings in the conference. Instead the Bruins chose to play .500 hockey (again). The Black and Gold got only three out of six points on this road trip, To make matters worse, the B’s had a regulation loss against a team missing their top four defensemen. The Bruins have nearly been in that situation themselves, and they should have been able to capitalize better tonight.
Well, at least they’re playing the Sabres next. The Bruins will hopefully use their disappointment as fuel as they take on the NHL’s favorite point piñata, the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.