BSJ Game Report: Canadiens 5, Bruins 4 — Poor showing from Rask, offside challenge snap B’s win streak

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 5-4 loss to the Canadiens in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

TOP TAKEAWAYS

Another poor period — and a tough game for Rask: After getting punched in the mouth by the Penguins during the second period of Monday’s win, a Bruins club playing on the second leg of a back-to-back slate once again put forth a stinker for 20 minutes up in Montreal. 

By the time both Boston and Montreal returned to the locker room for the first intermission, the Habs built themselves a 3-1 lead — taking advantage of some poor goaltending from Tuukka Rask and sloppy puck play from the rest of Boston’s roster. 

Considering that Montreal really didn’t generate too many Grade-A shots in the slot during that first period, a big portion of the blame has to go to the man in net — as Rask was unable to corral both a wrister from Tomas Tatar at 16:45 before getting beat five-hole by Paul Byron just 31 seconds later. 



Still, even if Rask wasn’t sharp in the early going, Boston’s skaters didn’t do much to help him out — with the B’s only landing six shots on goal in the opening stanza.

Being put in an early hole didn’t help the Bruins' cause, but Rask



as a whole wasn’t up to par on Tuesday night, as he relinquished another soft tally in the third period that proved to be the difference-maker in the Habs’ 5-4 victory.

Boston is still obviously in good shape despite having their six-game win streak snapped — nor should we worry about one poor outing from Rask after a 7-0-1 start for the netminder. But on a night in which Boston very well had a great chance to deal its longtime rival a loss in its own barn, the eventual result is a tough pill to swallow.

The offside challenge continues to be dumb: Won’t dwell on it too much, but man — the offside challenge continues to a putrid option for all NHL clubs. 

Despite trailing by two goals after 20 minutes, Boston managed to crawl back into the contest — knotting the score twice before Charlie Coyle appeared to give the B’s a 5-4 lead near the midway point of the third period. 

Boston appeared to be rolling, but Montreal challenged the third line’s goal — arguing that Coyle was offside close to 10 seconds before he lit the lamp. After over four minutes of time spent in the video room, the Habs called the goal back. 

https://twitter.com/emarinofsky/status/1191911308632965121

The overturned goal — Boston’s fourth through 15 games this season — turned out to be a brutal momentum swing in favor of Montreal, as Ben Chiarot beat Rask just minutes to give the hosts the lead once again. 

Another tough break for Boston, considering that Coyle appeared to be in possession of the puck as it bounced off his skates and up towards his stick, but an overturned goal was far from the only reason Boston was behind the eight ball in this game.

THREE UP: 

David Pastrnak: Ho hum — make it 15 goals in 15 games now for Pastrnak. That’s the most goals scored by a Bruins player through the team’s first 15 games in a season since Peter McNab had 15 goals of his own during the 1976-77 season.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1191886342856355840

Coyle Line: A new-look third line of Charlie Coyle, Anders Bjork and Zach Senyshyn impressed on Tuesday — with the trio out for a pair of Bruins goals, including Bjork’s second tally of the season. They should have been credited for another tally, but Coyle’s strike was taken back by way of the offside review. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1191902429660549121

Connor Clifton: It hasn’t exactly been the best stretch for the rookie defenseman over the last couple of weeks — while the looming return of Kevan Miller likely isn’t doing the Quinnipiac product any favors when it comes to his confidence. But his tally in the second period should help get Clifton back on track, as it was vintage “Cliffy Hockey” in the offensive zone.  

THREE DOWN: 

Tuukka Rask: The first stinker of the year for Rask, who surrendered five goals on 31 total shots. Of those five tallies, the B’s netminder is definitely going to want at least three of those back — culminating in Chiarot’s eventual game-winner at 9:06 in the third. 

Bergeron Line: Another uncharacteristic off night for this trio — with Brad Marchand’s point streak coming to an end at 13 games. In 13:34 of 5v5 TOI, Boston’s top line was outscored, 2-0, while only landing three shots on goal. 

Brett Ritchie: A poor night from Ritchie, who showed a concerning lack of awareness of a number of plays — including a sequence in the closing minutes of the first in which he headed off for a line change in the middle of a Montreal rush. Without an extra layer of defense in front of him, Byron was able to sneak in and fire a puck through Rask’s five-hole to make it a 3-1 lead for the Habs. 

PLAY OF THE GAME: 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1191896703684743169

PARTING THOUGHT: A standing ovation for Chara … in Montreal? Wasn’t it just a few years ago that people wanted Montreal police to detain the B’s defenseman? 

Jokes aside, a very nice moment at the Bell Centre.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1191883977143070720

LOOKING AHEAD: The Bruins will head back to Boston for a few days of practice, but Boston will resume game action on the road, with its next matchup slated for Friday night against the cellar-dwelling Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.