BSJ Game Report: Devils 1, Bruins 0 - B's lose game of inches in another frustrating loss

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

No puck luck in another brutal result: A game of inches — or perhaps centimeters is more accurate — was the ultimate determinant in this one, as the Bruins didn't get the puck luck they needed in what was a frustrating 1-0 loss to the Devils at TD Garden on Sunday evening.

Trailing 1-0 for most of the game after Kyle Palmieri scored the lone goal of the night at 16:37 in the first, the Bruins appeared to finally land punches against Devils goalie MacKenzie Blackwood in the final 1:10 of regulation with Jaroslav Halak pulled for an extra skater. Patrice Bergeron appeared to bury the equalizer off a scramble in front, but the goal was stricken off the scoreboard after New Jersey challenged for goaltender interference — with the subsequent review putting Boston back in a one-goal deficit.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1376325842771578880

Not to be outdone, Boston appeared to light the lamp once again in the closing seconds of play — but upon video review, the officials called that Blackwood (who has an absurd .962 save percentage against the B's in 2021) made an absurd stop to preserve the 1-0 victory for the visitors. It might have been a frustrating conclusion that had all 2,100 fans at the Garden serenading the refs with boos once time expired, but there shouldn't be any excuses for Boston to drop its third straight home game in regulation to a young, rebuilding club like the Devils. Through six games against the Devils, the Bruins have zero 5v5 goals. Dreadful.

https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1376327298845188098

B's avoid injury scare with Bergeron

Already without lineup regulars in *takes deep breath* Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask, Jake DeBrusk, Brandon Carlo, Sean Kuraly, Kevan Miller and Ondrej Kase due to both injuries and COVID protocols — Boston avoided catastrophe in the second period, as Patrice Bergeron was accidentally struck up high by Trent Frederic, forcing him to go to the room.

Bergeron ultimately returned to the game in the third period, although it seems like he might have broken his nose for the umpteenth time in his NHL career.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1376309216386940928

"My nose took a beating, but I'm good," Bergeron said, adding: "Didn't get an X-ray. Probably (broken), again.

TWO UP

Penalty kill: Despite missing PK aces like Bergeron (for a good chunk of the second period), Carlo, Marchand and Miller, Boston's kill kept New Jersey off the board on Sunday — going a perfect 4-for-4 on the evening. Younger skaters like Jack Studnicka (3:13 shorthanded TOI), Anton Blidh (3:02) and Anders Bjork (2:59) all made sizable contributions during their special-teams shifts against the Devils.

Jaroslav Halak: Aside from relinquishing the lone goal of the contest (which was a straight tough bounce that deflected off Palmieri and into the net), Halak kept Boston in this one with 28 saves on 29 shots on goal. Halak's clutch stop on Miles Wood in the closing minutes of the third could have been a major play had Boston managed to secure an equalizer.

TWO DOWN

Power Play: Boston's 5v5 scoring woes are well-documented — both this season and especially against the Devils — but once again, the B's didn't help their cause at all thanks to a power play that is now 14th overall in the NHL with a 22.7% success rate. Given how poor Boston's 5v5 offense has been as of late, even an average or slightly above-average power play isn't nearly enough when it comes to bailing this team out of tight games.

Refs: Boston's power-play and overall offense was so putrid on Sunday that perhaps it didn't matter in the long run, but man, these refs were heinous. Say what you will about the goaltender-interference call with 1:10 left in regulation, but there's no denying that the refs missed a clear tripping call by Pavel Zacha on David Krejci just seconds into a power play in the second. The same officials later initially missed a high stick from Charlie McAvoy that was eventually caught upon review, leading to a four-minute power play for Boston (which led to nothing on the scoreboard).

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1376311393738178561

PARTING THOUGHTS

An all-timer from Jack Edwards here.

https://twitter.com/DuckDuckGusev/status/1376312560471961601

QUOTE OF THE DAY

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1376330604481028097

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their seven-game homestand with a rematch against the Devils on Tuesday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.