Boston Bruins: How did Boston’s defense handle Colorado’s top forwards?
By jc
The Boston Bruins defensemen had an up-and-down game against one of the league’s best forward groups.
The Colorado Avalanche dealt the Boston Bruins their first loss of the season. Boston fell 4-2 in the final leg of a four-game road trip.
The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. The Avalanche responded with a power play goal late in the period. Colorado added one in the second and two more in the third to come away with the victory.
The 4-2 scoreline doesn’t really indicate how the Bruins defensemen fared against Colorado’s forwards. For the most part, the Bruins handled the high-powered offense.
Chara and McAvoy matched up against Colorado’s top line
The big question before the game was how the Bruins would defend Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen.
Bruce Cassidy matched Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy with Colorado’s top line virtually all night long. Chara and McAvoy each saw over 21 minutes of action.
Chara had one of his strongest games of the season. He certainly doesn’t have the speed to deal with someone like MacKinnon, but Chara used his reach effectively.
MacKinnon barreled down the right wing early in the second period, but Chara used his reach to keep him outside. As a result, MacKinnon could only put a weak shot on goal.
Later in the second period, Chara used his stick to deflect a pass and start a rush. Joakim Nordstrom got a quality chance on the other end.
Chara also got on the scoreboard in the first period with a shot from the point. The puck deflected off an Avalanche stick and flew past the goalie’s left shoulder.
McAvoy had an effective game against Colorado’s first line. He played aggressively in the neutral zone to stop attacks before they could even start.
Although Chara and McAvoy played well, MacKinnon and Landeskog each finished with a goal. MacKinnon scored on the power play, and Landeskog had an empty-netter. That said, neither Chara nor McAvoy can take responsibility for these goals.