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Bruins disappear in Philly |
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When goals by David Pastrnak and the newly recalled Peter Cehlarik gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead before the opening period hit the halfway point, it looked like the Bruins were set to coast to another easy win against the Flyers.
But from Cehlarik’s goal forward, the Bruins pulled the good ol’ disappearing act in Philadelphia. Scoring the game’s next four goals, the Flyers turned the tables on the Bruins, handing the Black and Gold one of their ugliest losses of the season. The Flyers four-goal outburst was led by Sean Couturier’s natural hat trick.
Skating in their lone game in Philadelphia this season, things could have not gotten off to a better start for the Bruins.
With Jori Lehtera serving two minutes for tripping, Torey Krug’s patience paid off as his pass through the seam led to Pastrnak’s 27th goal of the season.
Nearly five minutes later, the Bruins doubled their lead when Cehlarik—playing in his first game of the season after 28 games in Providence—got one past Flyers rookie Carter Hart.
"It felt good. I felt good with how the line was doing all night. Too bad we didn't get that win," said Cehlarik who skated on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. "Everybody brings something to the line. Jake has great speed wide, so we try to keep puck possession in our zone and created some looks off the O-zone time. But it's tough, we lost the game."
I’m not sure if it was a matter of the Bruins falling asleep after the Cehlarik goal, the Flyers waking up, or a combination of both. But, the brief 2-0 Bruins lead was the last bright spot of the night for a Bruins team that has now lost consecutive games for the first time since December 23 and 27.
The four goals the Bruins let up were all ones that could have been easily prevented. Oskar Lindblom’s goal that gave the Flyers life came from an ugly d-zone turnover, and a failure to react to the space given to Lindblom.
Couturier’s first of the night came thanks to a redirect of a Jakub Voracek shot. It wasn’t the redirect the Bruins should be upset about, it should be how easily Couturier was able to skate past Matt Grzelcyk and into open space, allowing him to deflect the puck with ease.
After a shorthanded two-on-one rush by Chris Wagner and Sean Kurlay was easily turned away, the Flyers quickly transitioned into an odd-man rush, ending with some pretty passing and a game-tying goal for the Flyers.
As the second period winded down, the Bruins were provided with their best chance to tie the game again as Lehtera’a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct gave the Bruins some life.
The five-minute power play was a microcosm of how poorly the night turned for the Bruins, as they managed just three shots on the man advantage.
Couturier’s third of the night came later in the third period, a goal that Jaroslav Halak has to save ten out of ten times. The goal was the worst surrendered by Halak in what has been a tough stretch of hockey of late.
The Bruins would get within one on Cehlarik’s second of the night, but it was too little too late for a Bruins team that disappeared for nearly 45 minutes Thursday night.
I thought last night’s performance was one of the worst Halak has to date, but the veteran backup was not alone. Despite their quick work and execution on their first power play of the evening, the Bruins were atrocious with the Flyers in the box.
The Bruins are currently built as a team that has success when their goaltending and power play is carrying the team. As we saw Wednesday night, when neither is clicking, it’s hard for the Bruins to pick up points.
Finishing the night with one power play strike in four attempts, the Bruins managed just seven shots in just over 10 minutes of power play time.
The Bruins have three goals in their last 14 power play attempts, letting key opportunities fall by the wayside.
If you’re looking to take any positives out of Wednesday’s ugliness, look no further than Cehlarik. The reason for Cehlarik’s promotion to the big club is just as much a reward for his play in Providence as it is the Bruins looking for a replacement for a David Backes that continues to give the Bruins next to nothing in the production department.
After 10 goals and 19 assists in 37 games in Providence, Cehlarik nearly matched Backes’ year-long goal totals in just 17:40 of ice time Wednesday. Backes has just four goals in 38 games this season.
The Bruins are in a tough spot with Backes. $6 million is a heck of a lot of money to pay someone that is going to be a healthy scratch for you. But $6 million is also a heck of a lot of money to pay someone who has just four goals and can’t seem to grab a hold of any role, even if it is a third or fourth line role.
Cehlarik has had his chances to show the Bruins his value, playing in 11 games in 2016-17, and then six more last season. The 23-year old has one goal and three assists in those 17 games.
In their search for a more balanced top-six, I don’t think Cehlarik is the answer the Bruins are looking for. I don’t think that answer is currently inside the organization.
The Bruins continue to be linked to names like Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Michael Ferland and others. It’s believed the Bruins are looking to acquire a player under contract after this season as opposed to a rental player.
Backes, his production and his price tag make that wish more difficult to fulfill. Backes has a full no-movement clause, throwing another curveball into the mix. Once the Bruins season comes to an end, the Bruins get some relief as Backes’ no-movement clause reduces to a partial no-movement clause.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching and the Bruins issues and current needs front and center, general manager Don Sweeney has his plate full. A plate that will certainly become more full if the deadline comes and goes without an attempt to address the team’s needs and an attempt to reload the Bruins for a hopeful Stanley Cup run.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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