Two Bruins losses, 2 goals and a missing off…read more
The Boston Bruins fell to the New York Rangers 2-1 on Thursday, marking their second consecutive loss on a three-game road trip. Despite outshooting the Rangers 77-49 in total shot attempts, the Bruins struggled to find the back of the net. The team’s offense, which had already been sputtering in their previous 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities in the game, leaving interim coach Joe Sacco frustrated with their inability to finish.
Sacco made adjustments in the second period by assembling a new top line, combining Brad Marchand, Elias Lindholm, and David Pastrnak. This move appeared to spark the Bruins, as the trio generated offense and helped Boston outshoot the Rangers 12-4 at five-on-five during their time on the ice. However, despite the pressure, they could only muster one goal. Lindholm’s tally, a pass from Pastrnak that deflected off a body, was the team’s sole goal in the contest. Pastrnak expressed frustration, believing the team had several chances but was unable to convert, crediting Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick for his stellar performance.
Quick, now the Rangers’ temporary number one goaltender with Igor Shesterkin on injured reserve, was the difference in the game. At 38, Quick demonstrated why he’s still a formidable presence in the crease. In the second period, he made several highlight-reel saves, including a sequence in which he denied Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, and Johnny Beecher on successive opportunities, finishing with a glove save while lying flat on his stomach. Later, Quick thwarted Charlie McAvoy with a last-minute right-pad save during a close-range chance. Lindholm, who scored the Bruins’ only goal, praised Quick’s performance but also emphasized the team’s need to convert more chances.
Despite some good individual performances, the Bruins’ overall offensive struggles continue to plague them. The team’s inability to score has been a persistent issue, with their goals-per-game average now at just 2.58, ranking them among the lowest in the league. The only teams with fewer goals per game are the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and Nashville Predators—teams that are far behind in the standings and have essentially given up on the current season.
Sacco is aware of the problem. After the first period, with the Bruins trailing 2-0, Sacco shuffled his lines in an attempt to ignite the offense. The new top trio of Marchand, Lindholm, and Pastrnak had some positive moments, but it wasn’t enough to break through. Sacco acknowledged that while the team had its share of opportunities, the lack of finishing remains a major concern.
“We generated some chances tonight,” Sacco said. “We had some zone time. I thought they had some good looks. It’s frustrating. Obviously we’re not scoring right now at the level we want to be. Not from lack of some opportunities. We’re just not finishing right now.”
Pastrnak also commented on the team’s offensive woes. “We could have way more than one goal,” he said. “I thought we had the chances. It was a good switch. Obviously, we weren’t going as well offensively the last couple games. Scored only one goal each. I think both lines had good chances. Goalie played too well today.”
The Bruins’ goaltending, led by Jeremy Swayman, also faced some challenges. In the first period, McAvoy was left without his stick after a collision with Nikita Zadorov, and Swayman had to come out of the crease to play the puck. However, his attempt to clear it was unsuccessful. Chris Kreider intercepted the puck and kept it in the Bruins’ zone, eventually setting up Mika Zibanejad for a shot. While Swayman stopped the initial attempt, the rebound fell to Reilly Smith, who passed it back to Zibanejad for the goal.
Later in the first period, the Rangers capitalized on a two-on-one rush after a pinch by Mason Lohrei went wrong. The Rangers quickly transitioned, and Brett Berard fired the puck past Swayman from the right faceoff dot for a 2-0 lead.
Swayman admitted the mistakes. “Odd-man rush,” he said. “Just got beat.”
With the offense struggling and goaltending needing to remain sharp, the Bruins find themselves in a difficult spot as they continue their road trip. The team will need to regroup and find a way to finish their scoring chances if they hope to get back on track and overcome their current scoring drought.
