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Penguins end Bruins streak; Matt Grzelcyk injured |
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All good things must come to an end.
After a run that lasted nearly two months, the Boston Bruins have finally lost in regulation, ending their 19-game point streak.
But their 4-2 streak-snapping loss was not the only thing that didn’t go their way in Pittsburgh, as Matt Grzelcyk left the game with an upper-body injury. Grzelcyk’s arm was pinned along the boards by Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist, sending Grzelcyk to the ice in pain.
After the game, Cassidy admitted X-rays were negative.
On Monday, the team provided an update as Grzelcyk has been sent back to Boston for further testing. He has already been ruled out for Tuesday’s game in Columbus.
You could see the streak-ending loss coming. After so-so games against the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, the Bruins dug themselves an early goal in Pittsburgh, and couldn’t quite climb out this time.
The puck management was poor, Jaroslav Halak let in a few goals he should have stopped, and for the first time in 19 games, the bounces didn’t go their way.
At one point in the first period, the Penguins were outshooting the Bruins 13-3. The Penguins led after the first, 2-0.
The Bruins figured things out after a sloppy first, finding their legs in the second period. David Krejci’s fourth goal in as many games, a power play strike, got the Bruins back within one.
But another breakdown by the Bruins led to a puck in the back of their net, this time off the stick of Jake Guentzel.
After what the Bruins have done in the late stages of their last two wins, the Penguins had to hold their breath after John Moore cut the Penguins lead to one with an empty-net goal as 1:01 remained.
But after a juicy rebound bounced right over the stick of Brad Marchand in front of Penguins goalie Matt Murray, the Pens were able to seal the deal with an empty-net goal.
Regardless of what happens over the course of the next few weeks, the Bruins run should show the league that they can skate with anybody. Their road to the Stanley Cup Final won’t be an easy one as most likely they will have to get through Toronto and Tampa Bay. But I think you can say you feel better about the chances of that than you did a few months ago.
The Bruins are soon getting Jake DeBrusk, David Pastrnak Marcus Johansson and hopefully Grzelcyk back. Once the Bruins get—knock on wood—back to full health, they will have the luxury of rolling out four solid lines.
On Monday, the Bruins sent Lee Stempniak back down to Providence. Hopefully, that’s the last we will see of Stempniak at the NHL level. Either DeBrusk or Johansson are ready to jump back into the lineup Tuesday, or the Bruins will have to recall another forward ahead of their contest with the Blue Jackets.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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