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Boston Bruins: Slumping At The Worst Possible Time

By Andrew Dulac |
Mar 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Phillip Di Giuseppe (34) celebrates after scoring the winning goal on Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) with center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the net during the overtime period at TD Garden. The Carolina Hurricanes won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Phillip Di Giuseppe (34) celebrates after scoring the winning goal on Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) with center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the net during the overtime period at TD Garden. The Carolina Hurricanes won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Bruins: Slumping at the worst possible time lately and last night, the struggles continued with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. After scoring 10 goals against two of the West Conference’s best teams, the Bruins could only net one against the Hurricanes.

It took the Boston Bruins over 40 minutes to rebound from a soft goal by the Hurricanes late in the first period. Loui Eriksson scored his 29th goal of the season 1:45 into the final frame. After some heart stopping action in overtime for both teams, a double post for the Hurricanes and Eriksson getting robbed by the glove of Cam Ward, the game turned to the shootout. Ryan Spooner, David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, Loui Eriksson, and Torey Krug were all turned away with Loui having the best chance to put the Bruins up and put some pressure on Carolina. Carolina’s Noah Hannifin scored the game winner for the Hurricanes and really hurt the Bruins post season chances.

Tonight, the Red Wings host the Flyers with huge playoff implications on the line. Bruins fans should be rooting for Philadelphia tonight. If the Red Wings lose in regulation, they will still remain ahead of the Bruins due to tiebreaker rules but the Bruins would get to hopefully take advantage of that tomorrow night when they host the Red Wings. Detroit would play the game they have at hand over the Bruins tonight. They end their season with the Rangers on Saturday while the Bruins end theirs playing the Ottawa Senators Saturday as well.

With a Detroit loss tonight and tomorrow, and two straight wins by the Bruins, Boston would make the playoffs. Philadelphia and Boston would likely each clinch the final two remaining playoff spots in the East and would end the Red Wings streak of playoff appearances at 24 straight seasons. Philly can still miss the playoffs but they still have four (after tonight three) remaining games and I believe they will win enough to get in to the postseason.

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The Bruins need help but they can still get in. One point against the Hurricanes was better than nothing but they really could’ve used two to make their lives much easier. As Bruins fans are used to the last two seasons, nothing is ever easy and the B’s have made their journey to this year’s postseason much harder than it has to be. If they can get some help from Philly tonight, the Bruins will again (somehow) control their own destiny.

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