The Boston Bruins blew a three-goal lead twice last week to lose games. On Sunday, the Bruins lost in regulation after possessing a three-goal lead for the first time since April 2011.
The good news? Last time this happened, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.
The bad news? To lose three games in the season when leading by at least three goals is unique, as it has now happened for the first time in franchise history.
The Bruins dominated the game offensively and built up an early 3-0 lead. Suddenly, the Bruins made four turnovers to let the game slip away from them.
On the first Penguins goal, it was John Moore losing the battle with Sidney Crosby, who found Dominik Simon unmarked to put one past Jaroslav Halak. After that goal, Moore continued with only 10 shifts, as he logged only 10:55 of ice time. That digit ranked last on the Bruins’ lineup on Sunday.
After this goal from Simon at 16:34 in the first, John Moore only logged a little over six minutes of ice time and 10 total shifts. https://t.co/tW3cZ6SP69
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 19, 2020
However, that was not the only message sent by Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy. For the next two goals, the Bruins allowed a shorthanded tally and a shot right after their power play expired. Tied at three apiece deep in the third period with the Penguins having little going on offensively, Charlie McAvoy turned the puck over to Evgeni Malkin, who fed Bryan Rust to win the game for Pittsburgh.
“Can’t turn the puck over there,” said Cassidy, who had some ongoing harsh comments on his defensive corps’ poor play as of late.
That's 21 goals on the season for Bryan Rust… in just 35 games. pic.twitter.com/kBtamWrC1A
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 19, 2020
“You need to make a play. You can’t turn the puck over there,” remarked Cassidy. “There’s too much of that going on. Guys that have the offensive ability have to start playing to their strength a little more on our back end, or we have to seriously consider what type of D corps do we want? We are supposed to be mobile, we are supposed to be able to move the puck, break pucks out and add to our offense. Right now that is a challenge for us.”
The Bruins are giving up goals and aren’t able to close out the games as they have been used to. Over the All-Star break, which commences after Tuesday’s game versus Vegas, the Bruins’ coaching staff will get to work with a ton of crucial adjustments ahead of them.
