Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime loss against the Flyers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Something’s gotta give: Barring a trade, this is what the Bruins are at this point: a team overly reliant on its power play and a stout defense to collect points at a steady rate. And when that D corp shows cracks? Yikes. As has been the case for most of the year, Boston’s potent top line and power play did what it needed to do — but a lack of secondary scoring and some brutal miscues by players like Charlie McAvoy, John Moore and others were too much to overcome.
The result? Boston’s third loss in a row on home ice — the first time that’s happened since Dec. 8-15, 2016 — and its fifth loss in its last six outings. Given the fact that Boston’s defense and goaltending has to be nearly flawless in order to collect two points on most nights, Don Sweeney and Co. desperate need to add a scoring punch up front.
David Pastrnak’s on a warpath: At this point, it seems like a given that David Pastrnak is going to become the first Bruins player to surpass the 40-goal mark in a season since Glen Murray lit the lamp 44 times during the 2002-03 season — especially after accounting for both of Boston’s goals on Thursday.
What is remarkable is that Pastrnak could become just the sixth Bruin — and first since Cam Neely in 1993-94 — to tally 50 goals in a season. Pastrnak is currently on pace for 48 on the season — so he’s figuring to be in the conversation by the time the calendar turns to late March. Given his recent hot stretch (five goals in last seven games) and his regular minutes on the power play (where he has lit the lamp 15 times), it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if the winger hits the mark.
TWO UP
David Pastrnak: Ho hum — make that three-straight, 30-goal seasons for Pastrnak, who is still just 22 years old. The dynamic winger is just the 10th Bruins player to hit 30 goals before February — and the first since Neely did it back in 93-94.
Tuukka Rask: You can’t fault Rask too much for Boston’s showing on Thursday, as he was peppered with shots for most of the night. Philly continually won the possession game as the night progressed, with the B’s getting outshot, 33-15, from the second period on. Along with a clutch stop on a penalty shot by Scott Laughton, Rask ended the contest with 37 saves in the loss.
THREE DOWN
Charlie McAvoy: It was a frustrating night for the young defensemen, who was out for Claude Giroux’s opening tally in the first period before nearly costing the Bruins in the next stanza off of a failed clear. Kudos to McAvoy for being more aggressive in the offensive zone, but he has to choose his battles — as Giroux was able to sneak past Chara and skate in unopposed on Rask after a great feed from Jakub Voracek. Just one of those games for McAvoy, who slammed the door along the boards after his turnover in the second stanza.
John Moore: He’s only played once in the past five games entering tonight, but Moore didn’t exactly inspire much confidence in his return to the ice, as he was caught out of a position on a few quality scoring chances for the Flyers. He nearly coughed up a goal in the final period after his shot from the blue line was blocked by Laughton, who skated in on a breakaway against Rask. Laughton was stopped, but drew a penalty shot on the play — which Rask thankfully stopped. Have to wonder if Cassidy continues to shuffle between Moore and Matt Grzelcyk going forward.
Danton Heinen: Secondary scoring has been an issue all season long with this club and Heinen, in particular, has been a poster child for the B’s lack of production beyond the first line. After tallying 47 points on the third line last season, Heinen can’t seem to buy a goal this year, as evidenced by this play — which very well could have been the game-winning goal. Yikes.
oh - oh no. pic.twitter.com/d3PvNaOVJO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 1, 2019
.@tuukkarask denies the penalty shot attempt. ? pic.twitter.com/PWcIvHBA6z
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 1, 2019
Some of the Patriots Super Bowl hype video that the #NHLBruins just rolled out. Of course, it ends with Stephen A. Smith ripping Max Kellerman. pic.twitter.com/O9XCYEYi6t
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 1, 2019