Dangerous selections and unhealthy penalties turned what may have been a fantastic street journey right into a so-so one within the Bruins’ journey finale in Seattle on Tuesday.
The B’s dropped a 7-4 determination to the Kraken and completed the journey at 2-2-1.
It was clear that the B’s didn’t have their considering caps accessible proper off the bat but it surely was a fateful closing two minutes within the second interval, after they gave up two self-inflicted objectives, that did them in.
The B’s will journey house on Wednesday and get proper again to work on the Backyard with a sport in opposition to the Calgary Flames to start out a five-game homestand. In the event that they wish to proceed their push for a playoff spot, they desperately want discover some traction on Causeway Road as a result of groups within the Atlantic Division are beginning to create some house. The third-place Canadiens are six factors forward of the B’s. They’re nonetheless solely three factors out of a wild card spot however they should get going.
The B’s have been dealing with the recent Kraken (7-0-1 of their earlier eight) with some lineup tweaks. With Hampus Lindholm out with an undisclosed harm, Henri Jokiharju drew again in for the primary time since he was injured on November 28. Tanner Jeannot, who missed the earlier 4 video games, was additionally again and Mikey Eyssimont got here out.
The brand new faces couldn’t stop the identical outdated downside. As they’ve so usually completed this yr, they dug themselves a gap with back-to-back penalties within the opening interval. First, NHL penalty chief Nikita Zadorov was known as for impartial zone interference. Then, simply eight seconds into the kill, Jeremy Swayman took an ill-advised tripping penalty on Jordan Eberle, giving the Kraken a 5-on-3 for 1:52.
The Kraken didn’t want all that point. Rapidly off the draw, Eberle obtained his revenge when he grabbed a rebound along side the web and flipped a simple purpose into the web at 8:50 of the primary.
However the B’s killed off the second penalty and scratched again with a fairly purpose earlier than the interval was out at 12:47.
From his personal zone, Zadorov made a terrific oblique move off the top boards behind the Seattle web that David Pastrnak was capable of acquire deep on the fitting wing. Simply when it seemed like he was going to take it across the web, Pastrnak stunned goalie Joey Daccord and slipped his 18th of the yr into the shortside.
The B’s nearly gave it proper again after they gave up a 2-on-1 however Mason Lohrei made a pleasant break-up of Chandler Stephenson’s crossing move.
The Kraken regained the lead early within the second interval solely to have the B’s tie it up once more, earlier than catastrophe struck late within the interval.
On the Seattle purpose, Jonathan Aspirot tried to maintain an aerial puck within the offensive zone however he couldn’t corral it and the Kraken went off on an odd-man rush. In a gradual creating play, it seemed just like the B’s had gotten again in time, however Berkly Catton scored his first profession NHL purpose on bad-angle shot from the underside of the fitting circle that someway discovered its means between Swayman’s pads at 2:48.
The B’s reply got here at 6:28 and, once more, it was Pastrnak. He handed the puck off to Charlie McAvoy simply contained in the blueline as McAvoy took it down the fitting wing and Pastrnak went down the left. McAvoy took it deep, nearly too deep, however he was capable of sneak a move during the slot for Pastrnak, who had an empty web for his nineteenth.
Swayman made a two nice saves on Matty Beniers, one on their lonesome within the slot and one other on a break-in, after which the Fraser Minten earned the B’s first energy play. They did every part however rating, but it felt like they have been taking management of the sport.
Then they noticed the sport get away from them within the closing two minutes of the second interval.
On the primary one, Lohrei misplaced a battle behind the web to Tye Kartye, who fed Ben Meyers in entrance and he blasted it shortside previous Swayman with 1:37 left within the interval.
Then got here the killer. Alex Steeves was known as for an offensive zone slashing. It seemed like they have been going to get into the room down by only a purpose, however Jared McCann’s slapper from properly above the fitting circle beat each Swayman and the clock, crossing the road within the closing second of the interval.
Regardless of the 2 daggers, the B’s began the third interval like they wished and earned a fast energy play however once more they might not money in in opposition to the Thirty second-ranked penalty kill.
The B’s saved coming however Daccord made some glorious saves, together with one on Pavel Zacha proper in entrance of the web.
The Kraken lastly snuffed out any actual hope of a comeback on a Kaapo Kakko purpose off a 2-on-1 at 10:21. Catton then scored his second of the evening with a PP purpose at 14:20 to make it a four-goal unfold.
The B’s did attempt to make respectable. Lohrei added one on the following shift. The B’s made the Kraken sweat a bit of bit. Viktor Arvidsson scored a power-play purpose with 2:22 left in regulation however Kakko completed it off with an empty-netter.
