Boston Bruins week 11: Not the best week for the team

We are now one week away from Christmas, and everything seems to be clicking for the Boston Bruins. The forwards are healthy, the defense is rounding into form, and will see the return of Adam McQuaid soon, and Tuukka Rask is playing like a #1, $7 million goalie.

After winning some impressive games over the past weeks, with wins over the Lightning, Penguins and Islanders, this past week the Boston Bruins played three games against Eastern Conference foes. Truth be told, they didn’t play their best. However, they still picked up 3 out of 6 points and are third in the Atlantic Division, 3 points ahead of the Canadians, with 3 games in hand.

Game 1: Detroit Red Wings

On Wednesday night, the Bruins made a quick trip to Detroit, and for the first time they played in the Little Caesar’s Arena. After a very uneventful first period, the Wings got on the board first with a Tomas Tatar power play goal in the second period.

In the third the Bruins equalized with a goal from Noel Acciari, before a Dylan Larkin shorthanded goal gave the Wings back the lead in the final frame. With a minute and a half left in the period, the Bruins pulled Rask, and David Pastrnak tied the game late.

Then just 35 seconds into OT, Brad Marchand and his slick breakaway backhanded finish ended the game and gave the Bruins a 3-2 OT win.

Full recap here.

Game 2: Washington Capitals

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A quick turn around had the Bruins hurry back to Boston to take on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. In the first it was the Caps who struck first as Jakub Vrana put one past Khudobin and the Capitals entered the second period up 1. In the middle frame both teams scored once, both on the power play. Patrice Bergeron scored first, before Nicklas Backstrom helped the Caps regain the lead.

In the last period, the Caps got two more as Alex Chiasson got two goals in the period, and the second goal was shorthanded as well. David Krejci got one to cut the lead to 4-2, but Ovechkin sealed it with an empty netter. Bergeron scored another power play goal but the game was done and the Capitals win 5-3.

Full recap here.

Game 3: New York Rangers

On Saturday in Boston, the Bruins again gave up the first goal again as Michael Grabner banked one off the boards and off Rask and gave the Rangers an early 1-0 lead. In the second period, the Rangers doubled their lead on a J.T. Miller PP goal.

The Bruins got one back in the in the period as Danton Heinen scored late in the period to make it a one goal game. In the final frame, with the Bruins chasing a goal, they got it from Brad Marchand on the PP.

Heading into OT, the Rangers got the extra point as Mats Zuccarello scored on the PP and the Rangers win 3-2 in OT.

Full recap here.

The Road Ahead

The Bruins have four games this week:

Monday night vs Columbus
Tuesday night at Buffalo
Thursday night vs Winnipeg
Saturday afternoon vs Detroit.

Predictions

After going 1-1-1 this week, I can see the Bruins going 2-1-1 with wins against Buffalo, and Detroit and gaining a point against the Jets before losing the regulation to the Blue Jackets.

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