After a 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night, the Boston Bruins faced a tough turnaround on Saturday night against the Minnesota Wild. One night after facing a 3-2 deficit going into the third period, the Black and Gold faced the same situation on Saturday night in Minnesota, this time down 2-1.
Unlike the night before, the Bruins were not able to tie the game as Minnesota scored an insurance goal by Jared Spurgeon in the third period for a 3-1 lead and victory for the Wild in their home opener. Here are three observations from Boston's first loss of the 2026-27 season.
Bruins parade to the penalty box in the second period was costly
Sooner or later, the Bruins will learn to stay out of the penalty box. Someday. Three second-period penalties turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit after 40 minutes. Casey Mittlestadt was called for an interference penalty. Minnesota scored on the ensuing power play. It was an offensive zone penalty. Those are a big no-no.
In the second period, Nikita Zadorov took a minor penalty, and then seconds later, Connor Clifton was called for tripping. Boston nearly killed both penalties, but Quinn Hughes scored for the second power-play goal of the period. Penalties, penalties, penalties.
Bruins lacked shot mentality
The Bruins landed the first eight shots on net in the game, including Tanner Jeannot's first goal of the season. After that, they lacked the shot mentality and instead made extra passes. It didn't work out.
There were too many odd-man rushes where a shot failed to land on the net, and players like David Pastrnak got into the slot and made a pass instead of shooting the puck. Boston is not loaded with goal scorers, but getting shots on net on the road is key. Pucks to the net and bodies to the net. Jeannot did that and scored. Boston's best players didn't have that mentality. You know Minnesota's best players would, and they scored. Go figure.
Bruins get the dreaded Winnipeg/Minnesota trip out of the way early in the season
It seems like whenever the Bruins play the Jets on the road, they also turn right around and play the Wild. That was the case again this season, but this year they get it out of the way with their first two road games. Winnipeg isn't the same Presidents' Trophy-winning team they were two years ago, and you know how good the Wild are. Back-to-back games with Minnesota on the back end are a nightmare when the Wild are rested.
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