The Bruins entered Detroit Sunday with a league best 80 points. The Red Wings entered the contest with a league worst 30 points. The Bruins carried a six-game win streak into Detroit, while the Red Wings had been shutout in three of their last four games entering Sunday.

Taking all the above into account, you would assume that the Bruins Sunday matinee against the Red Wings would have been two easy points and a seventh straight victory.

But we all know what happens when you assume.

I wouldn’t say the Bruins played poorly on Sunday. They had several chances and just couldn’t capitalize on them. Playing the second leg of a back-to-back is never an easy thing, but I don’t think that was much of a factor in the loss.

It was the second time this season the Red Wings defeated the Bruins. The two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon at TD Garden.

"We thought mentally that would be the biggest challenge [playing in the back-to-back] this game. I thought we were the better team. I thought we beat ourselves tonight,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy. “There was a lot of things that added up against us tonight. Part of that is certainly on us. I give Detroit credit for winning the hockey game, but I don't think they were the better team."

The Bruins finished the afternoon 0-4 on the power play including an extended five-on-three in the first period that the Bruins failed to capitalize on.

The Bruins appeared to tie the game at one in the second period after Brad Marchand tipped a David Pastrnak shot past Red Wings’ goalie Jonathan Bernier. But after a challenge by the Red Wings negated Marchand’s tally, the Bruins were sent back to the drawing board.

With the two teams facing the long change in the second period, a changing Patrice Bergeron was a little too slow getting to the bench as the Bruins chipped the puck into the offensive zone.

"It's the rule, so it's one me to get off the ice," said Bergeron. "It's something that we all know. I usually get off on the right side of the blue line. On that one, I wasn't thinking the puck was far, but it was great transition by us and I've got to get off the ice."

By rule Bergeron was offsides. 100% and no fighting that.

But at what point do you sit here and figure out what is more important to the game? Is it Bergeron, whose back is turned to the play with one skate on the bench, the other on the ice causing the play of be offsides?

Or is it that the coaches challenge which takes way to long to confirm, or not confirm a call on the ice is taking away from the game, taking goals off the board and causing the game to come to a screeching halt.

“Great for you guys to write how great that is for the NHL, we’re on NBC and all. How long did we wait,” Cassidy added “To me, you know my feeling on that. Not a big fan of the procedure or the rule. But it came back, surprise, surprise against us. And we could have used it [the goal].”

I’m all for being able to challenge plays because at the end of the day getting the call correctly is the priority. But, getting the call correct comes at what expense?

Should there be a time limit on how long a coach’s challenge can last?

Yes.

Should there be a time frame between the infraction and the time the puck went into the net?

Maybe.

Should there be a judgment call made during the challenge where it’s decided that the infraction had zero impact on the goal. Much like Bergeron did Sunday?

I believe it's worth the debate.

Marchand’s goal being called back is not why the Bruins lost. The Bruins lost because Detroit cashed in on their chances, the Bruins did not.

Pretty black and white if you ask me.

“I thought for the most part we stuck to what we have been doing the last few games. Even though it was a tough schedule, we skated well. Guys were holding on to the puck in the offensive zone, making a lot of plays,” said Torey Krug who scored the Bruins lone goal Sunday.

“We had a lot of good looks. Tuuks [Tuukka Rask] came in and gave us a chance to win the game and shut the door pretty well. One shot on a power play is the difference and that’s where our guys in our room feel like we’ve got to make a difference there.”

Speaking of Rask, Jaroslav Halak was scheduled to get the start Sunday after Rask helped the Bruins defeat the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. But Halak was a late scratch, forcing Rask between the pipes for the second consecutive day.

"He has an upper-body injury that we assumed was fine. He played with it Wednesday, practiced. It flared up today and with a 12:30 game, it didn't allow a lot of time to prepare so Tuukka had to go in,” said Cassidy.

"He felt that he wasn't gonna be able to give us 100 percent. It's not a position you can play at 70 or 80 percent, so Tuukka went in. Tuukka played well. Unfortunately, we weren't able to pick up some goals for him."

The Bruins are back at it Wednesday night when they host the Montreal Canadiens.

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