Final: Ducks 4, Bruins 2 - Fourth-straight loss

ANAHEIM -- For the first 35 minutes, the Bruins were clicking on nearly every aspect of the game. Their effort was spot on. Once again, however, Boston’s effectiveness went south as the Anaheim Ducks finished with a 4-2 victory Wednesday night at Honda Center.

It was the Bruins' fourth straight loss.

It’s becoming a theme for the Bruins, who have two more games remaining on this West Coast trip, that finding a full 60-minute effort is a stretch. Offensively, the Bruins haven’t scored more than two goals in the last four games. With so many injuries, coach Bruce Cassidy knew goals would be at a premium, but it didn’t help that the Bruins had only two power plays against the Ducks.



Observations from the third period:

• Torey Krug did not finish the game.


• When they need one desperately, the Bruins just can't catch a break. Riley Nash stopped on a breakaway.


• Let's see if the Bruins can regain their focus in the third.


• That would be a no. Boston lackluster effort to start the final period and Anaheim capitalizes for a 4-1 lead.

• Anaheim takes a 3-1 lead at 19:13. Could see that goal coming from up top.


• I wouldn't mind seeing Danton Heinen on Patrice Bergeron's line at some point. Prior to the season, the team discussed either Heinen or Anders Bjork on Bergeron's line. Bjork earned the opportunity out of training camp, but don't be surprised if Heinen's up there soon because he's been playing very well.


• Ducks throw the puck on net and it ricochets off Zdeno Chara's skate and past Rask for a 2-1 Anaheim lead.


• Bergeron is a master at getting an offensive zone faceoff when needed.


• This is one of the better games Jake DeBrusk has played all season. The healthy scratch treatment woke him up.


• Relentless shift by Riley Nash, DeBrusk and it ends with Heinen's goal to tie the game at 1-1.


• Good to see Brandon Carlo getting shots on net.


• Bruins' defensemen jumping into the play tonight.


• So far Peter Cehlarik is making the most of this opportunity.


• Bruce Cassidy staying with Jake DeBrusk, Riley Nash and Noel Acciari line to start the second period.


• Carlo is second-guessing himself and that's not good.

• Charlie McAvoy is playing more offensive minded tonight than he has in the last few games, which is what the Bruins need him to do.


•  Jake DeBrusk finishes the period playing with Riley Nash and Noel Acciari.


•  Kevan Miller is really good at collecting the puck, turning up ice and creating space under pressure.


•  Cehlarik is positionally sound.


•  Former Northeastern standout Kevin Roy with his first NHL goal to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.


• Torey Krug's been doing a solid job the last couple of games getting pucks on the net.


• Walpole's Chris Wagner just put a big hit on Krug in the corner. Wagner and Acciari are two of the biggest hitters on the ice tonight.


• So far, DeBrusk moving his legs and he just defended against a possible quality scoring chance for the Ducks with a stick-on-stick check.


• Very Small sample size, but I like Cehlarik on that line with Bergeron and David Pastrnak.


• Good to see McAvoy rushing the puck and getting a shot on net early. He knows he needs to do more of that. That play proved crucial because now the Bruins have an offensive zone faceoff.


• Anaheim's Antoine Vermette is playing in his 1,000th career game tonight.