The Boston Bruins suffered their first defeat under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy on Wednesday night in a 5-3 tough-luck loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
The B’s surrendered three goals in the second period but stormed back to tie the score with 8:25 remaining in the game.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, Rickard Rakell poked a rebound past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask with 2:34 remaining in the game to snap the Bruins’ four-game winning streak.
The Bruins fall to 30-24-6 with the loss while the Ducks improve to 32-20-10 with the win.
Here’s how it all went down.
CARLO STRIKES
.@dbackes42 ➡️ @1996_Carlo 🚨 pic.twitter.com/RhkenPETVS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 23, 2017
ALL TIED UP
The Bruins maintained their one-goal lead until early in the second period when the Ducks got on the board. Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase found themselves with a two-on-one advantage, and Ritchie slid the puck to Kase who beat Rask glove side to tie the game at the 2:03 mark in the second.
NO GOAL
The Bruins thought they had a goal after David Pastrnak blasted a one-timer past Bernier, but the goal was waved off due to goalie interference. The B’s used their coach’s challenge but the call was upheld.
WILD SECOND
After Kase tied the game, the Bruins responded quickly as Zdeno Chara launched a rocket past Bernier at the 6:55 mark in the period. Backes picked up his second assist of the night giving him six points in his last five games.
But the Ducks tied the game less than a minute later with a little bit of luck. Rakell’s shot was initially stopped by Rask, but the puck somehow trickled past the netminder.
With 6:48 to go in the period the Ducks continued to attack the net and it paid huge dividends. Ritchie tried to get a wraparound past Rask who made a pad save, but Josh Manson charged the net and was able to poke the rebound by the Bruins’ goalie to give the Ducks the lead.
TIED AGAIN
Boston finally tied the game at the 11:35 mark of the third period when David Krejci hit Frank Vatrano with a brilliant pass leading to a breakaway opportunity. Vatrano did what he does best and buried the puck into the back of the net. The goal was Vatrano’s ninth of the season.
RAKELL WINS IT
With 2:34 left in regulation the Ducks entered the offensive zone. Kevin Bieksa ripped a shot toward Rask, and while the netminder stymied that attempt, Rakell was put home the rebound for his second goal of the night.
The Ducks would add an empty-net goal to seal the victory.
UP NEXT
The Bruins’ road trip continues Thursday night when they take on the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
