Well That Was Ugly
I talked in my pre-game about how the Bruins need to come out hard if they want to play a full 60 and that.... did not happen. A horrible line change 1:35 into the game led to a breakaway-ish (Coyle the lone guy back) backhanded snipe from Artem Anisimov. 1-0 Senators.
Midway through the 1st, the Bruins' 4th line fumbled the puck in the back of their net and next thing you know Anthony Duclair is sniping one past Tuukka Rask. 2-0 Senators.
Chris Tierney made it 3-1 Ottawa early in the 2nd. Tuukka Rask came out to play the puck behind the net and just didn't attempt to get back in net. His controlled really disconnected. 3-1 Senators after 2.
Nothing going for the B's in the 3rd, and for whatever reason Bruce Cassidy decided to pull Tuukka Rask early while the Bruins were on a short PP towards the end of the game, JG Pageau made it 4-1 with the empty net with 3 minutes to go in the game.
With the goalie pulled Jake DeBrusk knocked one home on the PP to make it 4-2 Senators. Finally a PPG!
Another empty netter this time from Anthony Duclair made it 5-2 and that was all she wrote.
FINAL: Ottawa 5, Boston 2
- The only "good" from this game was the return of Patrice Bergeron. Came back and balanced out the lineup and contributed with a first period goal that got the Bruins back in the game in the 1st. Played a healthy 21:43 but even he couldn't save the power play.
The Bad:
- The power play continues to fail the Bruins. DeBrusk returned back to PP1 in place of Heinen after the B's 2nd man advantage of the game and eventually tapped one in late in the game for their first PPG in their last 14 opportunities (last 4GP). The Bruins had a chance to get back in the game (again) with a late PP in the 2nd but nothing doing.
The Ugly:
- Brett Ritchie moved up and down the lineup, he started out on the 3rd line with Anders Bjork and Charlie Coyle and then moved up to play with Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci. I just don't see him contributing on this team right now.
- Not Tuukka Rask's best game. Made no effort to return to the net after his fumble on Chris Tierney's goal. Made 23 saves. Anders Nilsson on the other hand played lights out for the Sens. Robbed Heinen what seems like a million times.
- Once again the bounces on offense just aren't coming. Even with 40 SOG the B's passed up some great chances to shoot the puck. Frustrating.
Bruins are back on Wednesday night as they head to DC to take on the Capitals. Time to wake up and see what these guys are really made of.