BSJ Game Report: Hurricanes 3, Bruins 0 - Boston's power play, defense labor again

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

SHORT SHIFT

Looking to right the ship after a 4-1 setback in Florida on Wednesday night, the Bruins didn’t find much consolation against another Eastern-Conference powerhouse in the Carolina Hurricanes — with the B’s ultimately coming up short in a 3-0 defeat at PNC Arena.

Jeremy Swayman finished with 21 saves on 23 shots for the Bruins, who now fall to 3-3 on the season.  

The Bruins’ offense once again dried up against an aggressive Carolina club, with Boston failing to cash in on five power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 sequence that extended for over a minute in the third period. 

But on a frustrating night like this, the Bruins’ issues extended far beyond their inability to get a puck past Frederik Andersen.

TOP TAKEAWAYS

Few positives to draw from this two-game road trip

Sure, we’re only six games into the 2021-22 season — but this two-game swing down to Florida and Carolina was set to be the first real measuring stick for a Bruins team that’s still trying to stake its claim as a contender in the Eastern Conference.

And while we’re not going to pen the demise of the 2021-22 Bruins off of a two-game road trip — the results put forth on Wednesday and Thursday offer little in terms of optimism.

Beyond an encouraging start between the pipes for Swayman, Boston was once again plagued by a bevy of fatal flaws across its retooled roster — be it weak net-front coverage, major struggles against an aggressive forecheck, lackluster play from its proven O-zone weapons, an out-of-sync power play and a lack of scoring depth further down on the depth chart.

Entering this season, questions about the Bruins’ D corps and the production generated from lines 2-4 were to be expected. What wasn’t expected was Boston’s usual strengths in its top line and power play also failing to produce — giving the B’s a rudderless offensive attack.  

In two games against Florida and Carolina, the B’s only scored one goal — and that was a bouncing puck from Charlie Coyle that technically bounced off of Florida’s Owen Tippett. 

If you’re looking for the last time a Bruins skater actually fired a puck off their own stick and found twine — that was Jake DeBrusk’s second-period tally against the Sharks on Sunday, a span of 134:20 of ice time. 

Not great.  

Jeremy Swayman bounces back

The only thing that could have made Thursday’s defeat even dourer for the B’s was if their last line of defense also faltered in the form of Jeremy Swayman. 

Even though Swayman has primarily thrived up in the NHL ranks during his brief tenure with Boston, Thursday was going to be a major test for the 22-year-old rookie — not only because of the opponent, but because it was his first game back in net after recording a stinker against Philly back on Oct. 20. 

Thankfully, Swayman didn’t let that poor outing against the Flyers snowball — with the youngster poised in his first start in over a week. Yes, a loss is still a loss, but Swayman was far from the issue in this one.

TWO UP

Jeremy Swayman: Tough to fault Swayman for the two goals tabbed against him — with Tony DeAngelo’s tally in the first coming through traffic and possibly redirected on the way in, while Nino Niederreiter’s power-play tally bounced off of Derek Forbort on a centering feed in the second. 

Jake DeBrusk: DeBrusk was one of the few B’s skaters that managed to regularly put together solid performances in the O-zone over the last couple of days — recording a team-high five shots on goal in Thursday’s loss. DeBrusk’s engaged play has been one of the few positives so far this season.

FOUR DOWN

Power play: I mean, just dreadful. 0-for-5 on the night with just a single shot on goal. Not good enough from a unit that has usually saved Boston’s bacon when the club has been in a funk.

Tomas Nosek:  Bumped up into a top-six spot once again midway through the game, Nosek didn’t make the most of his promotion — as he was whistled for a tripping penalty that led to Niederreiter’s tally just minutes later. He ended up with just 10:28 of 5v5 ice time.  

Bergeron Line: Not a good road trip for Boston’s top line — with Boston outscored, 1-0, and trailing in high-danger scoring chances, 6-1, during their 23:07 of 5v5 ice time against Florida and Carolina.

D corps: I mean, take your pick here. Whether it be more lackluster D-zone coverage, breakout woes and more — Boston’s revamped blue line just isn’t getting it done against talented clubs like Florida and Carolina. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Pretty telling when this was the best I’ve got for you: 

LOOSE PUCKS

QUOTE OF NOTE

“I think we just have to calm down out there.” - Brad Marchand on the power play

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will return back to TD Garden for a two-game homestand (spread out over six days, yuck) — with Boston set to host the Panthers for a rematch on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.