In the first road game of the season, the Bruins suffered an ugly 2-1 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings, which dropped our record to 1-1.
With it being so early in the season, I can't say I'm particularly worried about the performance last night, although I am most certainly not happy about it either.
We started off the first period slower than Hal Gill skated during a game. The Bruins looked dazed and confused all period, to the point where the Red Wings were outshooting us 14-0. The Bruins were penalized for interference twice during this period. The sole highlight for the Bruins this period was the beautiful goal from Patrice Bergeron on the first shot the Bruins took all game. This put the Bruins ahead but would also be the last Bruins goal.
The second period wasn't looking any better for the Bruins. We managed to get some good looks but were still being extremely sluggish. Patrice Bergeron also took an ugly hit during this period that took him out of the game for several minutes and had Bruins fans hyperventilating. Both Red Wings goals came during this period, one of which came on the power play and ruined the Bruins 100% PK rate. It was just an ugly period.
The Bruins being the Bruins, they came out for the 3rd period with some last minute energy. This lovely change lasted about 3 minutes before we resumed our slump. It wasn't until the very end when the Bruins saw a glimmer of hope. Brendan Smith got called for a slashing penalty and went off for his penalty with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. Claude Julien pulled Tuukka Rask and things were looking up, especially when Johan Franzen got called for elbowing. It was a 6-4 game and the Bruins were picking up momentum with a beautiful shot from Brad Marchand that pinged off the post.
And then Zdeno Chara went and ruined everything. As our momentum was getting us closer to tying, Chara got called for interference on Jimmy Howard and effectively ended any hope the Bruins had.
Although we can't make excuses, the Bruins were coming into this game after playing the night before and having to travel several hours to get to Detroit. Lucky for us, the Bruins have a day off before playing again tomorrow.
With it being so early in the season, I can't say I'm particularly worried about the performance last night, although I am most certainly not happy about it either.
We started off the first period slower than Hal Gill skated during a game. The Bruins looked dazed and confused all period, to the point where the Red Wings were outshooting us 14-0. The Bruins were penalized for interference twice during this period. The sole highlight for the Bruins this period was the beautiful goal from Patrice Bergeron on the first shot the Bruins took all game. This put the Bruins ahead but would also be the last Bruins goal.
The second period wasn't looking any better for the Bruins. We managed to get some good looks but were still being extremely sluggish. Patrice Bergeron also took an ugly hit during this period that took him out of the game for several minutes and had Bruins fans hyperventilating. Both Red Wings goals came during this period, one of which came on the power play and ruined the Bruins 100% PK rate. It was just an ugly period.
The Bruins being the Bruins, they came out for the 3rd period with some last minute energy. This lovely change lasted about 3 minutes before we resumed our slump. It wasn't until the very end when the Bruins saw a glimmer of hope. Brendan Smith got called for a slashing penalty and went off for his penalty with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. Claude Julien pulled Tuukka Rask and things were looking up, especially when Johan Franzen got called for elbowing. It was a 6-4 game and the Bruins were picking up momentum with a beautiful shot from Brad Marchand that pinged off the post.
And then Zdeno Chara went and ruined everything. As our momentum was getting us closer to tying, Chara got called for interference on Jimmy Howard and effectively ended any hope the Bruins had.
Although we can't make excuses, the Bruins were coming into this game after playing the night before and having to travel several hours to get to Detroit. Lucky for us, the Bruins have a day off before playing again tomorrow.
Bruins Positives
1. That Bergeron goal was beautiful and perfectly placed. It doesn't often get any better than that.
2. The fact that Rask held off 22 shots with not much help up front continues to prove that the contract we gave him was a great idea.
3. The shot Marchand got off during our brief 6-4 was pretty nifty.
2. The fact that Rask held off 22 shots with not much help up front continues to prove that the contract we gave him was a great idea.
3. The shot Marchand got off during our brief 6-4 was pretty nifty.
Bruins Negatives
1. The hit Patrice Bergeron took in the second was the scariest moment ever.
2. Puck management was atrocious last night. We weren't connecting on passes and the number of turnovers I saw made me angry.
3. The sluggishness that plagued us all game.
4. Johnny Boychuk :(
2. Puck management was atrocious last night. We weren't connecting on passes and the number of turnovers I saw made me angry.
3. The sluggishness that plagued us all game.
4. Johnny Boychuk :(
We will be seeing our Bruins again tomorrow night against the Washington Capitals. Until then,
Keep Calm and Bergeron!
Keep Calm and Bergeron!