Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 5-0 loss against the Florida Panthers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bottom falls out on the B’s: This was the worst-case scenario that most expected as soon as the B’s lost both Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara to long-term injuries. After a putrid first period in which Boston was edged in scoring chances by a 7-1 margin during five-on-five play, it didn’t get much better in the following stanza on Tuesday — with poor defensive play paving the way for numerous Grade-A chances for Florida, culminating in four goals. A porous showing on defense was the latest concerning trend for the Bruins, with Boston’s offensive woes clearly evident over an extended sample size now. Averaging 1.8 goals in their previous eight goals entering tonight, Boston has now been shut out five times already this season. The 2017-18 Bruins were only shut out three times all season.
Bruins go top-heavy up front:
In a desperate attempt to roll out at least one effective line, Bruce Cassidy opted to sacrifice secondary scoring by promoting David Krejci up to the top line with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. It didn’t have much of an outcome on the final score, but it was a telling decision for Cassidy to break up what has been a largely effective second line in order to go all in with Boston’s proven scorers. It seems unlikely that Cassidy would start a game with that lineup, given the relatively unspectacular showing that the following three lines put together following the roster shuffling at the start of the second period - but it’s still a troubling development.
ONE UP
Jaroslav Halak: If it wasn’t for another strong showing from Halak in net, this already sluggish outing could have quickly devolved into an even uglier blowout. He finished with 39 saves on 44 shots, including an impressive stop on a Troy Brouwer breakaway in the first. But even Boston’s best player on the ice wasn’t without fault in this one — surrendering a seeing-eye goal to Jonathan Huberdeau in the closing minutes of the second.
FOUR DOWN
Torey Krug: The Panthers feasted during a number of shifts in which No. 47 was out on the ice. Krug and Brandon Carlo were split by Colton Sceviour on Florida’s first goal of the night, leading to Mike Hoffman’s tip-in tally seconds later. Mike Matheson’s unassisted score less than 10 minutes later once again saw Krug get caught out of position on the ice, with the B’s defenseman unable to close off Matheson before he skated by him and wristed one past Halak. Not a good night for Krug.
Ryan Donato: Donato has harped on the need to improve his 200-foot game, but it’s clearly still a work in progress for the young forward. Donato was out for a pair of goals against at five-on-five play, including a poor effort to halt a speeding Matheson on his unassisted goal in the second period. Donato was dead last in TOI for Bruins forwards at 12:05.
Not a good look from Donato and Krug on that Matheson goal. pic.twitter.com/1cI6XYhJ4r
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 5, 2018
That about sums this one up so far. pic.twitter.com/Op0fSQohIa
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 5, 2018