The Bruins Lost In A Shootout, Again, And Are Now Winless In 7 Of Their Last 8 Games.

I would like to hereby abolish and decline the shootout for the rest of the season. The Boston Bruins are now just 1-4-3 in their last 8 games as they fell to the New York Islanders 3-2 in the shootout tonight at TD Garden. Their 5th shootout loss of the season. Don't get me wrong, the 2nd half of the game felt like a playoff game and the B's had a few chances, but once again they couldn't finish. FUCK.

Anders Bjork opened the scoring with an absolute snipe, but Charlie Coyle is the one who made it happen. Great poke check and Bjork has his 5th of the season. 1-0 Bruins. A whopping 7 shots on goal in the 1st period between the two teams (4-3 advantage to the Islanders).

A Johnny Rocket tied the game 1-1 early in the 2nd. The Bruins went a whopping 20 minutes without a shot on net from the end of the 1st period to about midway thru the 2nd.

The offense kicked in late in the 2nd but Semyon Varlamov robbed Anders Bjork.

Next thing you know Johnny Rocket is setting up Mat Barzal for the go ahead goal. 2-1 Islanders after 2.

Torey Krug tied it up on the 5 on 3 to send the game into OT. 2-2.

The Bruins held possession for most of OT but chances from Marchand, Pastrnak and McAvoy couldn't beat Varlamov. Devon Toews had a breakaway in the dying seconds but the puck fluttered away.

Eberle and Barzal scored for the Islanders in the SO, Pastrnak was the lone goal scorer for the Bruins.

FINAL: New York 3, Boston 2 (SO)

News, notes and quotes:

- The Bruins are now winless in their last 7 of 8 games (1-4-2). Not great. The Atlantic Division lead feels like it's shrinking, but the Bruins lead the Sabres by 11 points. 

- I mean Jesus Johnny Boychuk how dare you! Played out of his mind tonight. Goal and assist for the Johnny Rocket. No chance for Rask to make a save on that bullet.

- Great play by Coyle to set up Bjork's first period goal. Bjork's 5th of the year. Felt like Coyle had the puck all night long. He's elevated his game but he's been asked to fill too many holes. The Bruins need to address their 2nd line, and they need to address it now. Get David Krejci some help. Anders Bjork's game is coming around, though.

- Before Torey Krug's massive 5 on 3 PPG in the 3rd, the Bruins were 0/3 on the night and 4/33 in the month of December (h/t Ty Anderson). Nothing going all night on the man advantage. Took a Brock Nelson over the glass penalty for them to break through. 

- Charlie McAvoy is so fucking close to breaking through and scoring. So fucking close.

- Playoff feel: the 3rd period was incredible. Guys laying out all over the ice. Butts clenched in OT. Credit to the Islanders who are a great defensive team.

- The Bruins are now 0-5 in the shootout this season and 2-3 in OT. This game didn't deserve to be won in a SO.

- Tuukka Rask had a much better game than his last few. Made 19 saves. Sounds like Halak will get the nod in 2 days.

The Bruins will look to get back in the win column on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators. Can't have any passengers on Saturday if they want to get out of this slump.

ABOLISH THE SHOOTOUT.