BSJ Game Report: Flames 4, Bruins 0 - B's can't solve Vladar

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 4-0 loss to the Flames with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

SHORT SHIFT

After getting dealt to Calgary for a 2022 third-round pick back in July, Dan Vladar got the last laugh against his former club on Sunday night — as the 24-year-old netminder stopped all 27 shots that came his way to pace the Flames to a 4-0 victory over Boston.

Down the other end of the ice, Jeremy Swayman couldn’t match his former battery mate down in Providence, with the rookie coughing up four goals over 31 shots in the loss for the Bruins, who fall to 9-6-0 on the season.  

The Flames opened the scoring just 1:29 into the contest, with BC product Johnny Gaudreau rifling a puck past Swayman off of a juicy rebound to put the B’s in an early hole.

The second period followed a similar script, with another rebound relinquished by Swayman giving Noah Hanifin all of the space he needed to light the lamp and double Calgary’s lead.

A holding call against Juuso Valimaki in the opening minutes of the third period gave Boston a prime opportunity to claw back into the contest — but the power-play bid proved disastrous. 

A poor pass between Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy led to a shorthanded counter rush for the Flames — with Swayman denying Dillon Dube twice near the crease. But a dreadful sequence between Bergeron, McAvoy and Nick Foligno allowed Andrew Mangiapane to swoop in and bury the loose puck to put the visitors ahead, 3-0. 

Calgary nearly made it two shorthanded goals on the same power-play opportunity, with Mikael Backlund's shot leaking past Swayman and crossing the line juuuust as time expired on Valimaki’s infraction. 

Boston closed out the third with just nine total shots on goal — with Vladar stopping all nine attempts to put a stamp on his second career shutout. 

ONE UP

Reilly-Zboril pairing: Well, at least that third pairing still looks pretty solid. No real issues with that duo once again, with both Zboril and Reilly assertive with the puck and decisive in their decision-making. Meanwhile, the whole rest of the roster left a LOT to be desired. 

THREE DOWN

Power play: An 0-for-3 night on the man advantage doesn’t fully paint the picture of just how dreadful the B’s power play was tonight. Along with just four shots on goal in their 6:00 of 5v4 ice time, the Bruins' lack of execution up high led to a number of counter-rushes for the Flames, which led to that back-breaking third-period sequence in which Calgary snuffed out any chance of a B’s rally.

Jeremy Swayman: Not sure what he could have done on the shorthanded goal, but the rest of the Flames’ tallies were the byproduct of some poor rebound control and other warts that are usually present in young goalies’ games.  

Bergeron Line: Be it on the power play or at even strength, the Bruins’ big guns just simply didn’t have it in this one. During the 5:46 of 5v5 ice time in which Bergeron was matched up with Elias Lindholm and the Flames’ top line, Calgary held a 6-0 edge in shots on goal and outscored Boston, 1-0.

LOOSE PUCKS

So … when are the Bruins going to earn a statement win?

Sunday’s loss featured some of the usual tropes we harp on in wake of a Bruins’ loss in 2021-22: Poor D-zone coverage, a dearth of clutch scoring and lackluster performances in net. 

But another growing concern with this 2021-22 roster might be the lack of wins against quality opponents. 

Besides a 3-2 shootout victory over the Panthers back on Oct. 30, the B’s don’t have a whole lot of statement wins against the cream of the crop across the NHL — with their six losses this season coming against the Panthers, Hurricanes, Oilers, Flames, Maple Leafs and Flyers. 

If we’re going by points percentage in NHL, those losses are against teams ranking first (CAR), second (FLA), third (EDM), fifth (CGY), eighth (TOR) and 16th (PHI) in that metric. 

Sure, the Bruins have taken care of business against teams that they should be able to handle like the Stars, Sabres, Sharks, Red Wings, Senators, Devils, Canadiens and Flyers. But to prove you’re still part of the NHL’s elite, you’re gonna have to beat the rest of the clubs situated at the summit.

 PLAY OF THE GAME

PARTING THOUGHTS

Well, if you didn’t want to read any of this game report — this six-second clip might be the fastest way to sum up this ugly contest. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will now head back on the road — with the B’s set to battle the Sabres on Wednesday night up in Buffalo. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.