Tuesday’s loss to the New York Rangers was arguably the Bruins most entertaining game of the season. It was non-stop back and forth action with outstanding goaltending by both Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman.
It was a game the Bruins would eventually lose in a shootout. But in a game without Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, there was a lot to like in the loss, one coming off an impressive performance in Ottawa days prior.
It was the type of loss you could build momentum off and use it to go on a bit of run.
Instead, the Bruins did the complete opposite, throwing out a complete dud against the Islanders on Thursday.
The Bruins jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal from Taylor Hall. It was a solid first period for the Bruins, however, it was the lone positive to come from Thursday’s loss.
"We were the better team in the first period. They're at home. Obviously, they got a lot of pride. Happens a lot, home team doesn't have a good first period, usually, there's a little push in the second and we've addressed that. It happens to us a lot,… head coach Bruce Cassidy said.
“You just got to be ready for it and execute. Got to be able to execute at a level to sort of stem the pushes that they have. We seemed to spend the first five, six minutes in our own end because we couldn't execute the breakout, support the puck and be strong on it, and that gives them some juice. They did all the things I think they typically do when they're on.…
The frustrating part of Thursday’s contest was the fact that the Bruins knew what was to come in the second period, they knew an Islanders push was imminent and still, they had no answer for it.
They were lazy with the puck and in their own end, it was breakdown after breakdown.
"It's kind of been like that all year,… Hall said.
“I mean, even when Brad is in the lineup, it's not like we're beating teams 6-5 or 4-3, it's usually a 3-2 win or 3-1 or 4-1 with an empty netter. those kinds of games that we have to be comfortable playing and tonight, we're up by one going into the second. That should be a signal for us to lay on the gas and keep going.…
Not only did the Bruins lay off the gas, they parked their car along the side of the road, sitting and watching the action in front of them.
The Bruins have been without Marchand for four games now, two more to go on his six-game suspension. In those four games, the Bruins have scored four times.
I know I don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to win hockey games when you’re averaging a goal a game.
"You've got to keep shooting, got to keep attacking and hope that the floodgates open for us. It's been tough sledding for us scoring,… said Hall. “That doesn't mean you shoot less, it means you shoot more and try and attack more and create second chances, which at times tonight I thought we did.…
The return of Patrice Bergeron will help as much as it truly can. Bergeron returned Thursday after missing three games with a head injury.
Even with their struggles, the Bruins are likely to make the playoffs, likely doing so as the second of two wild card teams in the east.
It certainly feels as if the Bruins need more than one piece at the trade deadline in order to have any playoff success, never mind turning into any sort of a Stanley Cup contender.
The Bruins have a lot of hockey left ahead of them. But as entertaining as their loss to the Rangers was, Thursday’s loss to the Islanders, and the effort in it is concerning.