FINAL: Flames 4, Bruins 1 - Bruins sloppy all night, too many men penalty in the third was a killer

The Bruins were a total no show as they fell to the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Tuesday night. Boston came out slow and a step behind in the first and second period as they were terrible in transition and couldn't hold onto the puck. Andrei Kuzmenko got the scoring started for Calgary at the 4:20 mark in the first period on the power play. 

Boston had a good scoring chance on the other end but failed to get back, which led to a scoring chance for the Flames. Calgary scored again at the 13:01 mark thanks to a Connor Zary goal to make it 2-0. 

The penalty kill struggled tonight as the Flames scored a second goal on the man advantage at the 9:44 mark in the third period. Pavel Zacha scored on the power play at the 4:14 mark in the third period which cut the deficit to 2-1.

 At that point it became a hockey game as the Bruins remained on the power play. However, the B's played undisciplined hockey as they were called for too many men on the ice which was a killer and ended the entire momentum. Jonathan Huberdeau also cashed in a goal for Calgary at the 6:23 mark. This was probably the worst I have seen the Bruins all season and you could tell from the mood in TD Garden that the fans were not having it as the boos rained down throughout the game. 

The Bruins will be back in action on Thursday night when they welcome in the Vancouver Canucks with face off set for 7 p.m. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Bruins were soft and a step behind the entire game. Boston struggled to control the puck and could not get back in transition.
• I have to think that this performance may have something to do with coming off a long break. I understand that both teams had the break but it seemed that Boston was rusty after being off that long. 
• Bruins showed no energy or urgency throughout the night as Jeremy Swayman and others were pushed around throughout the game. 
• Swayman would like the one in the third period back when he let in a soft one. 
• Boston had the momentum in the third period once Zacha scored, but they then played undisciplined as they were quickly called for too many men on the ice, ending all hope.
• Bruins now face a tough test Thursday night with Vancouver who beat Carolina 3-2 tonight and will enter Thursday ahead in the overall NHL standings in first place, two points ahead of the Bruins. 

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

3. Noah Hanfin (1 goal)

2. Nazem Kadri (3 assists)

1. Jonathan Huberdeau (1 goal and 2 assists)

____________________________

WHO: Flames (22-22-5) at Bruins (31-9-9)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden,Boston. 
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

BOSTON
 Marchand –  Coyle –  DeBrusk
 Van Riemsdyk –  Zacha –  Pastrnak
 Lauko –  Geekie –  Frederic
 Heinen –  Boqvist –  Steen

 Grzelcyk –  McAvoy
Lindholm –  Carlo
 Forbort – Shattenkirk

 Swayman
 Ullmark

FLAMES
 Huberdeau -  Sharangovich -  Kuzmenko
 Zary -  Kadri -  Pospisil
 Mangiapane -  Backlund -  Coleman
 Pelletier -  Rooney -  Duehr

 Weegar -  Andersson
 Hanifin -  Tanev
 Kylington -  Pachal:

 Markstrom

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins return from the All-Star Break to begin a seven-game homestand to host the Calgary Flames at 7 p.m. Derek Forbort, Jake DeBrusk and Matt Poitras participated in both practices on Sunday and Monday. Forbort and DeBrusk will return to the lineup tonight. Boston enters tonight tied atop the league overall standings with the Vancouver Canucks at 71 points on the season. Trent Frederic enters tonight on a career-high five-game point streak and is only two points back of his career high of 31 on the season. 

I am looking for the Bruins to take advantage of a Calgary team that enters tonight 1-4-0 in their last five games on the season. However, it is worth noting that this Flames' team looks very different since before the All-Star Break as they claimed Brayden Pachal off waivers from the Las Vegas Golden Knights and acquired Andrei Kuzmenko from Vancouver for Elias Lindholm back on January 31st. Lastly, Jakob Pelletier  and Kevin Rooney are back after missing the last four months with shoulder injuries suffered in training camp. Hopefully, the Boston penalty kill can continue to get back on track as they are facing a Calgary man advantage that ranks 29th in the NHL at 13.8%. It is worth noting that the Flames have a great penalty kill ranking third in the league at 84.4%. Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich both pace Calgary with 20 goals on the season. Coleman also leads the Flames in points (40) with Nazem Kadri not far behind at 39. Noah Hanifin, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, will face his hometown team for the 17th time in his career. He has recorded a point in six of his last eight meetings with the Bruins. Calgary has not won at TD Garden since November 21st, 2021 when they won 4-0.