The Bruins’ collective backs are now against the wall.
After allowing the game’s first two goals, Boston couldn’t erase the deficit and now trail in the Stanley Cup Final series 3-2 after a 2-1 loss on Thursday night as the two teams head to St. Louis for Game 6.
The game will be remembered — and talked about for some time — because of a controversial non-call on a trip by Tyler Bozak against Noel Acciari that led to the game-winning goal by David Perron with about 10 minutes to play.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was irate, and team president Cam Neely was captured throwing a water bottle in disgust.
The Bruins cut the deficit in half on a Jake DeBrusk goal with six minutes to play.
Boston nearly got the equalizer minutes later as a slapshot got through Jordan Binnington, but Carl Gunnarsson was able to stick the puck out of the crease.
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- What a swing, eh? After reportedly breaking his jaw during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Zdeno Chara will be a game-time decision three days later for a pivotal matchup at TD Garden. Matt Grzelcyk, who has missed the last two games while in the concussion protocol, is also set to be a game-time decision for tonight.
- Even if both Chara and Grzelcyk are cleared to play, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if Bruce Cassidy goes with an 11F-7D structure — with players like David Pastrnak, Marcus Johansson and others expected to double shift up in the top six.
- Even if his line goes through some lineup shuffling tonight, David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk are more than overdue for a breakout night — with the 74-46-42 line limited to zero 5v5 points over its last six games.
- This marks the 26th time that the Stanley Cup Final has been tied 2-2 under the best-of-seven format (since 1939). The winner of Game 5 in that scenario ultimately has captured the Stanley Cup on 18 of the past 25 occasions (72.0%).
- Three of the four games thus far in the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal, or two goals following an empty-net strike. Overall, the series has been tied or within one goal for 80.7 percent of total playing time.
- The Bruins are looking to improve upon their 5-1 record following a loss this postseason. Their .833 winning percentage in that scenario ranks behind only the Avalanche (4-0, 1.000) and just ahead of the Blues (7-2, .778) in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- Charlie Coyle is seeking to become the 14th player in NHL history to score in four consecutive Stanley Cup Final games and first since Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky in 1985 (7-4—11 in 4 GP vs. PHI). Two Bruins players have achieved the feat: Johnny Bucyk in 1970 (6-0—6 in 4 GP vs. STL) and Roy Conacher in 1939 (5-2—7 in 4 GP vs. TOR).