BSJ Game Report: Devils 1, Bruins 0 - B's offense runs dry in snoozer against New Jersey

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 1-0 loss to the Devils in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

After Friday's emotional win against the Capitals, the Bruins seemed to have plenty of momentum rolling into Sunday evening — especially against a Devils team mired in a 1-8-0 slump and entering the second leg of a back-to-back slate.

But whether it be poor puck luck or the roster switching to decaf ahead of puck drop, the Bruins simply didn't have it on Sunday against a team they should be putting on the ropes — as Kyle Palmieri's tally at 15:23 in the third stood as the lone score of the evening in what was a 1-0 letdown for the B's at TD Garden.

Despite holding a 40-25 edge in shots on goal against the Devils, the Bruins couldn't solve New Jersey goalie Scott Wedgewood — who posted a clean sheet in his first matchup against the B's this season. Even with those lopsided totals as far as shots go, the Bruins failed to translate those attempts into quality looks — with the Devils actually holding an 11-8 edge in high-danger scoring chances in the win for the visitors.



Even on a night in which the Bruins' offense put forth a dud, it was once again a top-heavy output in terms of the shot chart — with David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron combining for 15 of the B's 40 shots on the night. Making the result even more frustrating was that a shorthanded D corps featuring the likes of Connor Clifton, Jarred Tinordi, Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen actually managed to hold its own against New Jersey, only to have another listless showing from a majority of the club's forwards result in a goose egg on the scoreboard.

In four games against the cellar-dwelling Devils, the Bruins have only lit the lamp five times.

THREE UP

Penalty kill: The Bruins' penalty-kill unit continues to thrive, with the B's routinely keeping the Devils out of their own end on a perfect 3-for-3 showing on Sunday. During their 6:00 of power-play reps on Sunday, the Devils only managed three shots on goal. Boston is now 15-for-15 on the penalty kill in four games against New Jersey this season.

Tuukka Rask: It was another strong showing from Rask (24 saves on 25 shots against), but the B's netminder is going to have to wait another game for win No. 300 of his career. It will be worth monitoring Rask moving forward, as Rask appeared to tweak something as he skated to the bench in the closing minutes of Sunday's game.

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Anders Bjork: His efforts didn't result in points, obviously, but Bjork had his feet moving throughout the night, including a couple of promising shifts on the PK. Despite starting the game on the fourth line, Bjork eventually ended the night earning reps back with David Krejci on the second line. That might be more indicative of the struggles of Boston's middle-six unit than Bjork's play, but the young winger was doing what he could to make things happen out on the ice.

THREE DOWN

Power play: Bruins didn't have plenty of gas in this one, but they could have really used a spark from a power-play unit that continues to struggle. With another 0-for-2 showing tonight, the Bruins have now tallied three power-play tallies in their last 28 total bids — an extended slump that has stretched to 12 games now.

Jake DeBrusk: Methinks it might be time for DeBrusk to watch a couple of games from the ninth floor, because the top-six winger just isn't getting it done out there on the ice right now. Still stuck at just one goal through 17 games, DeBrusk's lack of production in a crucial spot in the lineup has severely hampered this club on nights in which the Bergeron Line is kept in check (or the opposing goalie is standing on his head).

Craig Smith: We've covered a ton of forwards that still have plenty more to give out there on the ice, but we haven't focused on Craig Smith — who has now scored just one goal in his last 13 games. Brought in as a 5v5 force designed to give that toothless middle-six more bite, Smith has struggled to get going over the last few weeks while slotting between shifts on both David Krejci and Charlie Coyle's lines.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The Bruins' top line was out for the lone goal against on Sunday, but they were also the only trio that consistently generated chances against Wedgewood and the Devils.

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PARTING THOUGHTS

To add injury to insult after a game like tonight.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1368717934357528579

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

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LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will head out on the road for just one game, with the B's taking on the Islanders down on Long Island on Tuesday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. New York has given Boston fits this season, posting a record of 3-0-0 against the B's so far this season.