Well, so much for starting off a tough three game road trip right. The Bruins fell to the Anaheim Ducks last night 5-2, extending the Ducks at home streak to 18-0-2 and dropping our record to 28-13-2.
Things were looking good for the B's in the first, where we had sustained zone time and good offensive pressure out front with 16 shots on goal in 20 minutes.
And then everything just kind of fell apart. Our penalty kill unit forgot how to penalty kill and let in two power play goals early in the second. Then, our power play forgot how to power play and let up a short handed goal late in the same period. But, with 16 seconds left in the period, Daniel Paille swoops in and cuts the deficit to two goals.
The Bruins came out flying in the third, where we dominated puck possession and zone time. And yet, only managed to score once off a wrist shot from Dougie Hamilton. And then there were the Ducks, who once again managed to out smart our penalty kill and score a PPG followed shortly thereafter with the last Ducks goal. This game was awful.
Things were looking good for the B's in the first, where we had sustained zone time and good offensive pressure out front with 16 shots on goal in 20 minutes.
And then everything just kind of fell apart. Our penalty kill unit forgot how to penalty kill and let in two power play goals early in the second. Then, our power play forgot how to power play and let up a short handed goal late in the same period. But, with 16 seconds left in the period, Daniel Paille swoops in and cuts the deficit to two goals.
The Bruins came out flying in the third, where we dominated puck possession and zone time. And yet, only managed to score once off a wrist shot from Dougie Hamilton. And then there were the Ducks, who once again managed to out smart our penalty kill and score a PPG followed shortly thereafter with the last Ducks goal. This game was awful.
Bruins Positives
The first and third periods looked good. As I mentioned, we had sustained zone time, good offensive pressure and plenty of shots on goal. The boys came out in these two periods with a sense of urgency and purpose that we're going to need for the other two games in this road trip.
Bruins Goals
1. With 16 seconds left in the third period and the Bruins down 3-0, the Campbell got possession of the puck in the neutral zone. He starts the offensive drive, passes across to Florek, who hands it off to Paille. Paille then charges the net and buries it. This was Paille's 7th of the season.
2. With chaos in front of the net from Jarome Iginla and Carl Soderberg, Dougie Hamilton came forward to pick up a rebound and buried on Hiller's gloved side for his 4th of the season.
Bruins Negatives
1. Our special teams have been lousy since we lost Seidenberg to that knee injury and this game was no different. It's almost unheard of in the Bruins organization for the Bruins to let up 3+ power play goals a game but it's been happening a lot more than most of us would like. We've given up 7 power play goals in 17 opportunities, including the goals let up last night. It's becoming a lot more obvious that we have not yet found the right solution to replace Seidenberg, but until we do, our special teams need to learn to deal and become more efficient because we can't afford for this to continue.
2. Our inability to score is pretty frustrating. Now it's true that Hiller was basically super man last night, but similar to the Ducks, we are an offensively powerful team with a brick wall in net. We should have been able to produce a bit more than we did in my opinion.
3. Tuukka Rask needs a break. He had another off night last night. Like I always say, not entirely his fault, but it's almost unheard of for him to be letting up as many goals per game as he has been. I think he needs a chance to rest not because of his performance necessarily but because he needs a break. Start utilizing Johnson a bit more, maybe call up Svedberg a few more times. Just give him some time.
4. Milan Lucic being out with an illness. Booooooo.
2. Our inability to score is pretty frustrating. Now it's true that Hiller was basically super man last night, but similar to the Ducks, we are an offensively powerful team with a brick wall in net. We should have been able to produce a bit more than we did in my opinion.
3. Tuukka Rask needs a break. He had another off night last night. Like I always say, not entirely his fault, but it's almost unheard of for him to be letting up as many goals per game as he has been. I think he needs a chance to rest not because of his performance necessarily but because he needs a break. Start utilizing Johnson a bit more, maybe call up Svedberg a few more times. Just give him some time.
4. Milan Lucic being out with an illness. Booooooo.
Looking on the bright side, we have another game tomorrow to come back and redeem ourselves. And Shawn Thornton will be back in the line up on the 11th. So until then,
Keep Calm and Bergeron!
Keep Calm and Bergeron!