The deadline looms and this game seemed to make it clear change is necessary.
Whatever happens next is in the hands of Don Sweeney.
First Period
Things began with a short-handed goal, making sure the Bruins did in fact keep their lead in that particular category of gifts in the NHL, as Sebastian Aho made short work of the hapless power play. Korpisalo didn’t have a prayer. 1-0 Canes.
Then, the Bruins had themselves a significant period of time in front of the Canes’ goaltender, and finally, Morgan Geekie picked up a rebound and put it straight into the net! 1-1 Everybody!
No further scoring, and we head to the 2nd period.
2nd Period
The only scoring of this period was done by Brent Burns, who was able to squeak a shot that either clipped Vinni Lettieri or just had a fated trajectory for the back of the net, and the Canes took a 2-1 lead.
No further scoring, and onwards we go.
3rd Period
Things started with Morgan Geekie tying up the game off of a strong pass by David Pastrnak, and he slams it past Kochetkov! 2-2 Everybody!
Then…A mere minute and change left in the game and well…
sigh
Just show the damn clip.
Bruins lose 3-2 to the Hurricanes.
Game Notes
- Your TOI Leader was Nikita Zadorov, who logged 21:55.
- This was actually a pretty loose game, all things considered. The Bruins ended up actually outshooting the Canes and largely controlling the game in a way they hadn’t been in a good long while, but the same mistakes on the power play and the same absolutely boneheaded mistakes from their defense killed them the same way it’s killed them throughout this last rough stretch of games. Otherwise, both sides traded time in each other’s end, and maaaybe there was a chance for an OT winner, had of course…
- …Nikita Zadorov not actually physically handed the game to the Carolina Hurricanes. Look, there is plenty of time for Zadorov to end up in a position on this team where he can be acceptable, if not exceptional. But stuff like that turnover directly to one of the most skilled and dangerous Canes out there at any given time? That’s the kind of thing that makes people mad he was acquired in the first place. If he’s gonna be the defactor 1a/1b defender while Mac and Hampus are out,
- Don, I don’t think I have to overstate this or anything, but this forward corps away from David Pastrnak is in dire straits. Morgan Geekie had a great night, but a lot of the stuff that happened for him tonight that was good happened because Pasta was there to facilitate it in some fashion. The rest of this squad is slow, completely terrified to take a shot themselves, or wildly overthinking it, as noted by the multiple 2-on-1s they were able to pull out of the Canes, which ultimately ended in no goals scored on any such play. They. Need. Help. Go get it.
- Boston’s power play was of course, no real danger to the Hurricanes, who usually has a pretty stout PK, but man it’s real frustrating for them to keep giving up goals short handed like this. Even good players seem to lose their minds when faced with the prospect of having more ice to play with out there, and it’s killing their momentum, what little of it they generate.
- Joonas Korpisalo was…fine. I don’t love the Brent Burns goal whatsoever, but two of the three goals the Canes scored tonight were 90% the fault of a player making an absolutely unconscionable decision in front of him, and the rest of the way he played pretty well otherwise. That said, in those moments of panic, rising above it counts for something…and an .870 SV% against a team that didn’t concern itself with a whole lot of shooting is a performance to improve upon.
- Whatever happens after this, especially with players like Brandon Carlo or god forbid, Brad Marchand being bandied around as potential trade targets, it’s really starting to feel like the winds of change are blowing against this team; threatening to knock it over. If Don is willing, and it seems like he’s been so, he can go and make this team very different if he really chooses to. It will hurt, it will hurt bad, and the version of this team you see after the deadline will likely bring you some of the worst hockey you’ve seen since the early 2000’s, but it will be necessary. If not? We wait till the summer for salvation; it’s not coming in-season from Providence, and it’s not coming from overproducing good years. Help will only come if you go and get it.
Boston will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, but as Dan made it clear, we’re now turning our undivided attention towards the trade deadline, which ends at 3pm EST tomorrow afternoon. As always, trades will likely be trickling in after that time, so please be ready for a chaotic, wild day.
We’ll see you there!