BSJ Game Report: Canucks 2, Bruins 1 - B’s drop another frustrating game in overtime

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Another frustrating finish for the Black and Gold:

After being unable to cash in early in their last two losses against the Flames and Oilers, the Bruins slowly ramped their game up as the minutes ticked off the clock in regulation Saturday, with the ice decisively tipped in Boston’s favor down the stretch.

In the final 40 minutes of play, Boston held a 19-10 edge in scoring chances — including a 63.89 Corsi For Percentage in the final stanza. And yet, despite Joakim Nordstrom’s tally at 7:45 in the third, Boston had to once again settle for a single point on the night, with Vancouver coming away with the 2-1 victory off a score from Bo Horvat at 3:12 in the extra period.

After posting a dominant 3-0 showing in their first homestand of the year, Boston has only notched two of a possible six points during this four-game road trip — leaving points on the board against a rebuilding team in Vancouver and a squad with a whole slew of problems in Edmonton. Not good for the Black and Gold.

Lineup shuffling continues



Following another game with a lack of finish from the Black and Gold, look for Bruce Cassidy to start getting creative with his lineups going into Tuesday’s tilt with the Senators.

The dynamic Bergeron line — held off the scoreboard for the first time since a season-opening loss to the Capitals — was broken up at one point in the contest, with Danton Heinen skating in place of David Pastrnak, who saw a few shifts with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.

Given their possession stats — both Krejci and DeBrusk might be able to do some major damage with a player like Pastrnak on the wing, although the top six seemed to reverse back to its usual lineup as the game entered the final 20 minutes of play.

Still, Cassidy’s willingness to tinker in-game with his lineups should serve as a bit of a preview for some overhauled forward trios ahead of Tuesday’s game.

Urho Vaakanainen makes NHL debut

It was a rough outing to start his NHL career after losing a puck battle to Brandon Sutter on the Canucks’ opening goal, but the 19-year-old blueliner steadied his game the further it went along, logging 12:26 of ice time, including 12:26 of TOI. With Charlie McAvoy still in Boston for testing, look for Vaakanainen to get another look on Tuesday.

THREE UP

Joakim Nordstrom: After tallying two goals in 75 games last season with Carolina, Nordstrom reached the same scoring mark in just his seventh game — and 13th shot — with the Black and Gold.

Shifted over to third-line center in place of David Backes, Nordstrom continued to serve as a dependable skater for the visitors, winning puck battles while later orchestrating a relentless checking trio with Chris Wagner and Anders Bjork in the third period.

What exactly is Nordstrom’s ceiling with this Bruins team? Unclear, but so far, he’s been better than advertised in filling in whatever role Cassidy has for him.

Danton Heinen: Another strong showing from Heinen since getting benched for two games, with the 23-year-old winger leading all Bruins skaters with a 82.76 Corsi For Percentage over 16:45 of TOI. While primarily lined up with Krejci (68.0 CF%) and DeBrusk (59.26 CF%), Heinen was on the ice for 15 scoring chances for the B's — and just four for the Canucks.

Jaroslav Halak: Despite relinquishing a odd goal from Sutter off an odd breakdown in front, Halak came away with a couple of timely saves down the stretch to allow the Black and Gold to tilt the ice back in their favor — highlighted by a point-blank stop on Nikolay Goldobin in the closing seconds of the third to preserve the single point for the Black and Gold.

THREE DOWN

Power Play: Even without Torey Krug, the Black and Gold still boast plenty of firepower on their man advantage in Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. But so far, this B’s power play has been anything but dynamic away from TD Garden, going 0-for-10 so far on this road trip and 1-for-13 in five road games.

With Krug nearing closer and closer to a return, the Bruins should get a shot in the arm on a unit that has played a key role in Boston’s inability to cash in on opportunities so far this road trip.

Brandon Carlo: Man, this one is tough. Through the end of regulation, Carlo was locked into a “Three Up” spot after a strong showing on the blue line — logging a team-high 23:43 of ice while serving as the last regular right-shot defensemen on the Bruins’ roster. Willing to pinch up and keep pucks during offensive zone possessions, Carlo finished with three shots on goal while recording a block and a delivering a hit.

Still, Carlo played an unfortunate role in Boston’s OT loss, mucking up a pair of offensive zone stints while struggling to control the puck on his stick. The second miscue, where he could not control a feed from Marchand at the blue line, jumpstarted the Canucks’ final rush of the night, ending in Horvat’s game-winning tally.

Brad Marchand: Carlo had a rough misplay in OT, but Marchand also was also at fault for a goal against during 3-on-3 for the second night in a row — failing to recover the puck in the neutral zone and allowing the Canucks to break in with an odd-man rush against Halak.

INJURIES: Already without two regulars on their blue line in Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed) and Kevan Miller (hand), Boston lost its third-line center before the game even began, as David Backes sat out the game due to “not feeling well,” per a team release.

Backes took a high hit from Oilers defenseman Matt Benning on Thursday, forcing him to miss most of the first period. Even though he returned to the game, any hit to the upper body is a major concern for Backes, who has had a number of concussions in his career.

UP NEXT: Bruins fans can enjoy not having to stay up late for the time being, as Boston will head back east to take on the Ottawa Senators in the final leg of its four-game road trip on Tuesday. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.