The Bruins Have Suffered Their First Regulation Loss On Home Ice Of The Season
The Boston Bruins' undefeated in regulation at home streak is no more, thanks to the Colorado Avalanche. The Bruins couldn't muster up any offense and the speedy Avs swept the season series with a 4-1 win at TD Garden.
Chris Wagner (goals in back to back games) opened the scoring with a redirect from John Moore's shot from the point. 1-0 Bruins.
Valeri Nichuskin tied things up late in the 1st. 1-1.
The Bruins couldn't get the puck out of their zone and Ian Cole (500th career game) hammered home the go ahead goal mid way through the 2nd. 2-1 Avalanche.
After the Bruins had sustained offensive zone time for what felt like 1-2 minutes, really had the Avs on their heels… a fudged gap between McAvoy and Grzelcyk led to Andre Burakovsky making it a 3-1 game. Felt like a dagger.
8 shots for the Bruins through 2 periods. No offense whatsoever. They had the Avalanche on the rope towards the end of the 2nd, but couldn't get anything of quality on net. EIGHT SHOTS ON NET.
Despite some PP chances and more sustained offensive in the 3rd the Bruins couldn't get anything past Franscouz. The Avs add an empty net goal and that's all she wrote.
FINAL: Colorado 4, Boston 1
News, notes and quotes:
- Give the Avs credit, their speed absolutely gave the Bruins fits tonight. And even when the B's tilted the ice late in the 2nd, the Avs didn't break. The Bruins just flat out haven't been able to get anything going offensively.
- Chris Wagner now has goals in back to back games. I thought finally since the Bruins got on the board first it would kick them into gear and we'd see their first full '60 minute game', but alas.
- Brett Ritchie returned to the lineup after a 7 game absence. David Backes was scratched. Ritchie slotted alongside Charlie Coyle, had a breakaway in the 1st period, couldn't convert. Not sure if he should be in the lineup going forward.
- The power play for lack of a better term, has looked like dogshit.
- Nathan MacKinnon is a treat to watch. Loved his quote the other day to about how he would take less money on his next contract because he wants to win. Such a competitor.
- If all goes well the B's could be getting back Patrice Bergeron next game. Would be a big boost to this team that seems to be slumping right now.
- It took nearly 2 months into the season for the Bruins to lose in regulation at home ice, they've racked up points early but we haven't even seen them play their best hockey.
- Jaro Halak made 16 of 19 saves. Rask back in net on Monday night.
The B's head out for a 4 game road trip starting on Monday night against the Senators. Time to get back in the win column. Will record a podcast after Monday's game. Lots of hockey coming up.