Takeaways from the Bruins’ overtime loss to the Ducks

On Thursday night, the Boston Bruins were playing on home ice for the first time in almost two weeks and they were facing a familiar foe in the Anaheim Ducks – a team they had just defeated the previous Sunday.

However,  on Thursday night, it wasn’t meant to be as the Bruins blew a 3-1 third period lead and fell to the Ducks 4-3 in overtime.

Here’s what we can take away from this game, if nothing else.

Takeaway #1 – They couldn’t hold the lead when it counted

After the first period, Boston was down by a goal, but thanks to goals from David Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle, and lastly from Matt Grzelcyk.

Grzelyck’s goal made it 3-1 in favor of the home squad, and they carried that lead into the second break.

Time to breathe a sigh of relief, right? Wrong.

Anaheim came storming back in the third period with two of their own off the sticks of Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry who scored late in the third period at the 18:05 and 19:45 marks, respectively.

That means the Bruins went almost the entire third period without allowing a goal, but took their foot off the gas just a little bit too early.

Then in overtime, just 2:08 in, Mason McTavish gave Boston a taste of their own medicine and scored the game-winner – his guys third goal in a row – beating Linus Ullmark five-hole.

Takeaway #2 – They still have the ability to come back

At the end of the day, Boston did lose this game, but it was in overtime, which means they still get a point out of it at the end of the day.  That has to count for something, right?

Plus the Bruins were able to come back from being down a goal and to come out and score three in a row to take the lead in a commanding fashion. That was encouraging to see that, they don’t let one goal deter them.

This was the most goals that an opponent has scored on them this season, and it will be interesting to see how they recover from this.

Takeaway #3 – Ullmark was still solid

If you look at numbers, sure, Ullmark let in four goals, but he also stopped 28 of them including 16 of 17 in the first two periods.

What this also shows, on top of Ullmark still being an elite goalie, is that having the flexibility of two (very good) goalies is going to be a key component of this season.

With Ullmark having a good, but not great day Thursday night, it will likely be Jeremy Swayman who will start in Boston’s next game, just so he can get some rest.

What’s next for the Bruins?

The Bruins are back in action on Saturday, October 28, when they take on the Detroit Red Wings at home – puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., where the game will be televised on NESN.