At least they didn’t end up losing in front of a full building.
[deep breath]
Alright. Let’s get through this.
First Period
The Bruins started the scoring with Mason Lohrei taking the puck from the point, made Zach Benson bite and fail to catch him, and then Lohrei took the puck to the net, hammering it home to get the Bruins on top 1-0!
Then, the Sabres got to work. Creating one of many pretty little passing plays that kept the puck moving quickly in order to create space; opening up Tage Thompson to hammer home the tying goal. 1-1 Everybody.
That did it for goalscoring in the first, and we move onto the middle frame.
Second Period
Things did not improve in the 2nd period, as yet another passing play in transition once again opened up room in front of Swayman, and Thompson was once again there to hammer it home, this time from a tap-in. 2-1 Sabres.
Next, it was JJ Peterka’s time to join the scoring, as once again the Sabres gained the zone quickly, and Peterka hammered home a shot effectively uncontested. 3-1 Sabres.
Third Period
Here’s the bulk of what you need to know. Thompson finished off his hat trick entering the zone…
Brad Marchand got a goal…
…And then JJ Peterka finished up his own hat trick. From both an Empty-Netter, and also from just blowing through Lohrei and Wotherspoon.
Then Nikita Zadorov ended up starting some nonsense with JJ Peterka and got a game misconduct; The ensuing power play got Zach Benson his vengeance; scoring on the power play.
Bruins lose a miserable 7-2 game.
Game Notes
- Mason Lohrei played the most minutes of any Bruins player last night, with 23:16 TOI. He had a goal. Good for him!
- So hey, remember when I said that the Bruins struggled from games where they get worked in skating? Well, one aspect I did forget is struggling with tight passing plays; Buffalo rarely gets as many opportunities to move the puck around quite like they did against Boston last night, who had circles run around them all night. The Bruins seemed to be completely incapable of acknowledging where the puck was or was going to be, and their response towards the end of the game was emblematic of the problem of just about…everything being off.
- It’s been part of the Sacco Bruins that they’ve largely gotten outshot, but it genuinely felt at some points where Buffalo could do whatever it pleased in Boston’s end whenever it was able to generate an offensive zone turnover, and that made for such an unfortunate, frustrating watch, especially since they actually controlled a game for once, albeit as a result of trying to desperately course-correct from a miserable start.
- As I warned, David Pastrnak did not have a game where he had 3+ points to get the offense going, and the rest of the forward corps failed to rise to the occasion. If they want to actually try making the playoffs, then that has to change; full stop.
- Two hat tricks in one game; JJ Peterka and Tage Thompson absolutely ran the show for the Sabres. If the Sabres end up rebuilding again, I’d imagine the haul they get from that to be incredible.
- Y’know Nikita, if you’re gonna have one of those rah-rah speeches about how you wanna play in Boston in the postseason and how you wanna bring this team to excellence, maybe don’t play one of your worst games of the season like…right after saying it? Is going after the guy who just dropped 3 on your goaltender because you and your entire defense corps apparently decided to watch the game from the ice really the best course of action? Is that passion or idiocy?
- Believe it or not the penalty kill actually only let up a single goal on three assessed power plays to Buffalo. That’s pretty decent. It’d be nice if the power play ever joined them there in “Getting a Goal Scored Once Ever”
- Swayman got chased late, which I would argue is both half his own fault and half the Sabres making mincemeat of Bostons absolutely miserable team defense. He did not have a good game, and he also received no help; both things can be true.
- One can’t help but assume the path this team is directing Sweeneely to involves an aggressive sell off at the deadline. While the Bruins have been able to put together some strong games recently, they are enormously tied to their stars playing out of their minds, and losing two of your top 4 on defense has exposed just how shallow they actually are at this position these days. I think they can be better, they just need the horses to do that, and the ones they tried at the offseason are either hurt, or absolutely . Maybe they’ll beat Winnipeg and New York and Minny and we all forget about this constant stop-start thing they’re doing right now, but I imagine if the Bruins actually took stock of what they have and have had over the season, the path would be very clear to them, and it doesn’t involve following the Red Wings into mediocrity.
- I understand Sabres fans’ reticence to appear for this team, but man it really sucks that the Sabres can’t keep their building filled. I’ve been there once or twice, and I’ll be honest, KeyBank might be a bit old, but it’s honestly a really fun barn. If their front office actually learned something from this game; maybe they could make their team something to believe in.
- Get well soon, Charlie and Hampus. We miss you badly.
Better shake off whatever this was, because the Bruins are set for a meeting with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. That game drops the puck at 7pm EST.
We’ll see you there.