It was not the way that the Boston Bruins wanted to start their four-game road trip. Two late first-period goals from the Pittsburgh Penguins turned the tide and momentum in the game and the Bruins were never able to recover, losing 4-1.
With the loss, the Bruins fall five points behind the Penguins for third place in the East Division and their lead over the Philadelphia Flyers for the fourth place and final playoff spot was cut to one point after Philly rallied to beat the New York Rangers in overtime Monday night, 5-4.
Here are some takeaways from another frustrating loss Monday night.
- The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on Matt Grzelcyk’s power play in the opening period, but that was all they got by Tristian Jarry. Boston fired 43 shots on the net and Jarry turned away 42 of them. Scoring once again is an issue for the Black and Gold.
- The Bruins did have a chance to get back in the game in the second period shorthanded and trailing 3-1, but Jarry came with some big saves. First Brad Marchand broke down the left side free, but his shot from in close was saved. Then Jake DeBrusk took a pass from Charlie Coyle, broke in on a partial breakaway, only to have Jarry make a blocker saves. Then DeBrusk and Steven Kampfer broke 2-on-1, only to have DeBrusk’s shot stopped. Any one of these shots goes in, it’s a different game at 3-2.
- There have not been too many times where the Bruins have been outplayed in goal this season, but Monday night was one of them. Jaroslav Halak has been very good the last week in replacing Tuukka Rask, who down with an undisclosed injury, but against the Penguins, playing four straight games might have caught with him. With the Bruins holding a 1-0 lead late in the first period, Halak allowed a shot from Evan Rodrigues from the left boards to get by him between his arm and body. Then in the final two minutes of the period, Sidney Crosby’s shot from a very tough angle again beat Halak, this time between the body and post. Two shots Halak would love to have back.
- The Bruins finished the game leading in just about even statistical category, except where it mattered the most, on the scoreboard. They held an advantage in shots, 43-26, faceoffs won, 31-23, hits, 38-26, and blocked shots, 15-11. The effort was much better than it was Saturday against the Rangers, but the same result.
- Matt Grzelcyk led the Bruins with eight shots on the net. Marchand was second with six, David Pastrnak had five and Craig Smith finished with four.
- Twenty of the Bruins’ 43 shots occurred in the first period. They trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.
- The Bruins power play went 1-for-4, but 0-for-3 after the first period when they had chances to cut into the deficit. They had two opportunities in the third period, but in keeping with the theme, they failed to score.
It is a quick turnaround for the Bruins as they hit the ice again tonight in Pittsburgh, hoping to get a win before heading off to Buffalo.