Boston Bruins: 3 takeaways from 2-1 overtime loss to the Devils
The Boston Bruins lost their second game of the season by a score of 2-1 in overtime to the New Jersey Devils and are now 1-0-1. This game was just painful to watch as the B’s struggled to get anything going.
Unlike the first game where Boston came out red-hot, this game saw them sleep walk through the first two periods of the game. It wasn’t until the end o the second period that the B’s woke up and started driving some offense.
If it wasn’t for Jaroslav Halak and a great play on the penalty kill by Brad Marchand to set up a shorthanded goal by captain Patrice Bergeron towards the end of the second period, this game would’ve ended in regulation.
Here are three takeaways from the 2-1 overtime loss.
3. Jeremy Lauzon played much better for the Boston Bruins this game.
After struggling and seeming out of place in the first game of the season, Jeremy Lauzon was much better today. He looked much more confident, both with and without the puck, and was quicker with his decision making.
Last game, Lauzon was weary, as he second-guessed himself and hesitated often. Today, he made a decision quick and stuck with it, and it paid off as he was heads over heels better.
Lauzon finished this game with just over 18 minutes of ice time. This is about a minute-and-a-half less than last game but I think this is because the Bruins were trailing for most of this game.
Because of this, Lauzon, a defense-first defenseman didn’t see as much time as he did last game when the game was either tied or the Black and Gold were leading.
Lauzon finished this game with three hits, four shots on goal (which was tied for the most among B’s defensemen with Grzelcyk), and a +1 +/-. As you can see Lauzon played much better as he was a plus, more physical, and didn’t have a turnover.
2. Matt Grzelcyk struggled for the Boston Bruins.
After having a solid first game of the season for the Bruins on Thursday, Matt Grzelcyk struggled in this game. He was getting easily pushed around by bigger players and, although the stats don’t say it, turned the puck over in his own zone a few times leading to chances against.
Grizz needs to be better in his own zone, despite how well he might be playing offensively. He’s the most experienced left-shot defenseman the Black and Gold has and will be called upon quite often to play big minutes.
Must Read. Boston Bruins: 4 takeaways from 3-2 shootout win over the Devils. light
Although he struggled defensively, Grzelcyk played well in the O-zone, especially in overtime. He had a few really good scoring opportunities in OT but just couldn’t cash in. He finished the game with four shots on goal.
But back to his defense. Grzelcyk was one of the worst defensemen for the B’s today. As I previously stated, he had several bad turnovers. I specifically remember one he made earlier in the game where he was being hounded by a Devils player as he was skating around his own net. He ended up turning the puck over at the bottom of the right circle, leading to the Miles Wood goal.
On the game-winning goal by rookie Yegor Sharangovich, Grizz failed to effectively get back on defense after having his shot blocked from the right circle in the O-zone. Grzelcyk needs to get back, if he does this goal doesn’t happen and the game goes to a shootout.
Grzelcyk finished the game with 22:12 of ice time, two blocked shots, two penalty minutes, one takeaway, and a -2 plus/minus (+/-). NHL.com says he didn’t have a giveaway/turnover, but that just isn’t right.
1. The Boston Bruins need to be better at 5-on-5.
Outside their top line of Marchand, Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, the Bruins struggled to get things going at 5-on-5 last season. So far this season, it’s the same story.
The B’s thought they could solve this problem by signing right wing Craig Smith, but so far this isn’t the case. With Pastrnak out due to offseason surgeries, the Black and Gold have struggled at 5-on-5 more than what was anticipated.
Through two full games, Boston has yet to score a goal at 5-on-5. Their three goals have only come from special teams — two from the powerplays in the first game and one shorthanded today.
This just won’t cut it. It was seen that unless the B’s got a powerplay or even a penalty kill, they were not going to score in either game.
It’s not even just about creating scoring chances, however. At 5-on-5, Boston just looked terrible. They didn’t play well in their own zone and just couldn’t drive the play in transition.
dark. Next. Boston Bruins: 5 bold predictions for the 2021 season
Something has to change before Pastrnak gets back. I’m afraid that even when Pasta does return, things aren’t going to be much different. This is because when Pasta returns, outside the first line right wing, the line up will be the same. From the second line down to the fourth line will remain what it is now unless there are injuries.