Riding a three-game losing streak entering Wednesday’s contest in Washington, the Bruins knew snapping their skid against the Capitals would be no easy task.
In what was a battle between the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, the game lived up to the hype and provided a glimpse at what fun could be had should the two meet in a best-of-seven playoff series later this season.
The Capitals entered the contest three points better than the Bruins in the race for the top spot in the east, with the Capitals winning 15 of the last 16 contests between the two teams.
In what was an entertaining, back-and-forth contest, the Capitals once again got the better of the Bruins in a 3-2 victory.
Given their lack of
energy and urgency of late, Wednesday’s contest was one the Bruins can be proud of. And one that will hopefully carry some positives into Thursday’s game with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“As a coach, you like how the 60 minutes transpired better than some of the other nights. We’re in the game, we’re right there,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy. “We very easily could have won the game. Two or three things probably changed that but in terms of a 60-minute effort, I think we’re getting close to where we want to be.”
After David Pastrnak opened the scoring with his league-best 26th goal of the season, it looked like the Bruins were on their way to winning the game when Patrice Bergeron’s power play strike extended the Bruins lead to two a little over five minutes after Pastrnak’s goal.
But once again, a coaches challenge found Jake DeBrusk’s skate to be over the blue line before Bergeron carried the puck into the offensive zone.
It was the Bruins 276th goal that has been wiped off the board this year due to offside review. No need to fact check that stat, just believe me.
“Yeah it is (frustrating),” said Bergeron. “Obviously, when you’re on the opposite side of it, it feels nice. But when you come up short every time, and it happens 20 seconds after the play, it’s tough to swallow. But it is the rule and we have to live with it.”
What was also frustrating for the Bruins was their production on the power play. With Bergeron’s power play tally coming off the board, the Bruins went 0-5 on the man advantage, three of those coming in the third period.
In the 6:49 of power play time the Bruins top unit of Pastrnak, Bergeron, Jake DeBrusk, Brad Marchand and Torey Krug saw together, they managed just one high danger scoring chance for.
With how dominant the power play was to begin the year, it’s baffling that the Bruins are no longer getting consistent contribution from their power play, more specifically their top unit.
With Bergeron back in the mix, the Bruins top unit has their full line of weapons. The Bruins game plan on the man advantage is simple. DeBrusk, the net-front presence. Bergeron, playing the roll of bumper. Then there’s Pastrnak, Marchand and Krug, cycling themselves and the puck through the zone, ultimately looking to free space for Pastrnak to rifle off that dangerous shot of his.
For most of their 6:49 5v4 ice time, they got away from that.
“Pasta ends up down around the net. I just think, there’s better ways and we have talked about ways to free up his shot by moving the guys up top,” Cassidy said. “Typically it’s March, it’s Torey, it’s Pasta. The other two stay in their spots.”
Although their quality of shots wasn’t the best, the top unit did manage seven shots on goal during their 6:49 of power play time.
Sprinkle in a few more quality chances, and more of those seven shots should start to go in again.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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