Boston Bruins: Despite win over Capitals, four-game homestand was a missed opportunity

Five points in four games isn’t bad, but the Boston Bruins had the opportunity for something better.

The Boston Bruins went into the holiday break with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. Given Boston’s struggles with Washington, the victory definitely ended the four-game homestand on a high note.

Nonetheless, even with the victory over the Capitals, the homestand was a missed opportunity for the Bruins.

The Bruins started the four-game stretch with high expectations after a tough road trip. Boston lost three of four on the road, so the homestand undoubtedly was a chance to bounce back and earn some points in the standings.

However, Boston only finished with one win in four tries. The other three were all extra-time losses.

Recap of Boston’s four-game homestand

In the first game of the homestand, Boston took on the Los Angeles Kings, a team near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Bruins had a late lead in the third period, but the Kings battled back to win in overtime.

Boston then welcomed the New York Islanders to TD Garden. After a hard-fought game in which the Bruins had an early lead, the Islanders emerged in a shootout.

Game three of the homestand featured the Predators, another team out of the playoff picture. The Bruins again scored first, but Nashville won in overtime.

Finally, in the fourth and final game at home, the Bruins managed to secure two points thanks to the win over Washington.

Why the Bruins’ homestand was a missed opportunity

First off, Boston’s four-game homestand was not a failure. The Bruins earned a point in each game, and as such they remain comfortably in first place in the Atlantic.

That said, five points in four games isn’t enough for a team like the Bruins, especially when all four games are at home.

The losses to the Kings and Predators stand out. The Bruins are better than the Kings, and they held a one-goal lead late in the third. That must result in two points.

The Bruins also held a lead against the Predators, a team that struggled mightily in the past month or so. Again, that needs to be a win for Boston.

Also, we have to consider the fact that the Bruins had a lead in all four games. And, they scored first in three of the four games. Based on all that, you expect the Bruins to finish with more than one victory.

The Bruins faced real adversity for the first time this season when they lost three of four on the road. The ensuing four-game homestand was a great chance for the team to turn things around and find its game.

After one win and three extra-time losses, we can’t help but think the homestand was a missed opportunity.