3 takeaways from the Boston Bruins loss to the Detroit Red Wings

After clinching a playoff spot following a win on Saturday and a loss by the New York Islanders, the Boston Bruins wrapped up a home and home with the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. The sequel didn’t go as well as the first game, with the Bruins losing this one by a 5-3 score.

There are still takeaways from a loss, so with that, it’s takeaway time!

Slow start once again

After getting themselves in a 2-0 deficit on Saturday, the Bruins once again came out of the gate slow in Detroit. They trailed 1-0 after one period and just like that it was 4-0 with a little less than five minutes left in the second period. They were able to rally from two goals down on Saturday, but they dug too deep a hole this time.

Special teams struggles

Sunday was, safe to say, not a banner day for the Bruins special teams. While on the power play in the second period, they allowed a shorthanded goal to Moritz Seider, and when they were shorthanded, they allowed power play goals to Alex Chiasson and Dylan Larkin. Yeah, Alex Chiasson is somehow still a thing. When three of your opponent’s five goals are scored on special teams, something’s wrong.

Line juggler Montgomery

When the Bruins fell behind 4-0, Jim Montgomery brought out the line blender, changing three out of four lines, with the fourth line of AJ Greer, Tomas Nosek, and Garnet Hathaway the only line that remained intact. This is what the lines were to start the game:

And this is what the lines were to end the game:

To Montgomery’s credit, reuniting the Czech line and moving DeBrusk down to Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic’s line worked, but, as I said earlier, it was too little too late. After rallying to trail only 4-3, the Bruins couldn’t score again and took their second loss in three games.

Up next

The Bruins road trip continues with a trip to Chicago to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, with puck drop scheduled for 8:30.