The Boston Bruins lost 2-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night, dropping their record to 2-5-2 against Western Conference teams on the road.
Boston’s inability to win back-to-back games has become a frustrating trend this season. The B’s have just two win streaks of three or more games this season and are 7-9-0 after victories. It’s difficult to move up the standings with this level of inconsistency.
Here are four takeaways from the Bruins-Jets game.
1. Tuukka Rask Not to Blame
Rask playing well in Bruins losses has become a trend through the first 33 games of the season. He made 25 saves on 27 shots against for a .926 save percentage, including seven stops on the three Winnipeg power plays. Boston easily could have trailed 2-0 or 3-0 after the first period if not for Rask.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has an even-strength save percentage above .925 over the last 10 games. The Bruins haven’t given him much offensive support, though, as evidenced by his two wins in the last six games in which he has allowed two or fewer goals.
2. Power Play Struggles Again
The Bruins were unable to score on three power-play opportunities, tallying four shots on goal. Boston is 1-for-18 with the man advantage in nine games in December and 1-for-27 since Nov. 15. A lack of shots and traffic in front of the net are the main reasons why the power play has been ineffective this season after ranking third in the league in 2013-14.
3. Torey Krug Making an Impact Offensively
Krug has given the Bruins blue line a spark in the attacking zone with three goals, two assists and 24 shots on goal in the last seven games. He also has helped drive puck possession with a 72.9 Corsi-for percentage at even strength in that span.
Krug’s second-period goal Friday tied the score at 1 and moved him ahead of Dougie Hamilton for the team lead in goals scored (six) among defensemen. Krug’s recent production is an encouraging sign for a Bruins team that has scored more than two goals in just three of the last 12 games.
4. Slow Start Dooms Bruins
Winnipeg had a 26-12 shot attempt advantage in the first period, along with a 16-4 edge in shots on goal.
Jets winger Evander Kane pounced on a loose puck in the crease to give Winnipeg a deserved 1-0 lead in between two Bruins penalties in the first four minutes.
Boston was slow to loose pucks, won very few 1-on-1Â battles and failed to clear traffic from in front of the net. Too many defensive breakdowns and sloppy puck management allowed the Jets to dominate possession and force Rask to make a ton of saves in the first 10 minutes.
The Bruins now have a plus-2 goal differential in first periods this season and have trailed first in 17 of 33 games.
Thumbnail photo via Bruce Fedyck/USA TODAY Sport Images
