Bruins
Another D-zone faceoff loss led to disaster for the Bruins in the third period on Tuesday.
Bruins fans have seen this script play out countless times this season.
A slim third-period lead for Boston was not enough to secure two points against Connor McDavid and the high-powered Oilers on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
With Stuart Skinner pulled from Edmonton’s net in the waning minutes of regulation, McDavid forced overtime by driving to the net and knocking through a puck that was potted home by Leon Draisaitl.
Just 2:18 into overtime, McDavid and Draisaitl once again worked their magic — with the latter hammering a one-timer past Linus Ullmark off a slick saucer feed from his longtime teammate to secure Edmonton’s 2-1 win.
It was a frustrating result for a Bruins team that largely kept Edmonton’s explosive offense in check for most of the night, especially with Tuesday standing as the second leg of a back-to-back skate.
“You got to find a way to close out a game,” Jim Montgomery said postgame. “This a great opportunity for us to realize that you can’t take anything for granted. Because in a couple of months — it doesn’t matter how tired you are at the end of the game.
“We got to find a way to push through. We didn’t find a way. We played a real good game. We’re on a back-to-back, Edmonton’s not. But nonetheless, we did a really good job checking. Our goaltender did his part. I think we did a good job not taking penalties against a real good power play. But in the end, they found a way to just squeak one by us.”
Relinquishing late leads has been a back-breaking flaw on this Bruins team. Boston has been dealt nine total losses (one in regulation, eight in overtime/shootout) this season when entering the third period with a lead.
A much-needed remedy could be prescribed by the end of the week with the NHL trade deadline set for 3 p.m. on Friday. But with Boston not exactly flush with assets — and currently operating with just $61,558 in cap space — Don Sweeney and his staff will have to get creative in order to significantly augment this team.
Even if the necessary cap space is carved out by Boston, Sweeney and Co. might need to pick one specific area of the lineup to address between now and Friday afternoon.
It’s an unenviable task, to say the least.
A compelling case can be made that the Bruins need more physical fortitude on their blue line — especially when it comes to clearing out the netfront in crunch time.
A middle-six scorer will undoubtedly come in handy if key cogs up front hit scoring droughts in the postseason. And given the bruising nature of the playoffs, a hard-hitting, tone-setting stalwart might be welcomed on the fourth line.
But in a season where the Bruins have been prone to lapses during critical junctures of the game, the absence of a tried-and-true faceoff ace has routinely reared its head in these losses.
All things considered, the Bruins have largely been able to trudge ahead following the retirements of both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci last summer — at least when it comes to baseline production.
Boston’s current top-six duo of Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha are on pace for a combined 46 goals and 116 points this season.
But the lack of a go-to option when the time comes to win critical D-zone draws has often put Boston on the ropes in these games — allowing opponents to deliver knockout blows time and time again.
Zacha (54.3%) and Coyle (51.8%) have actually been solid in this department this season, all things considered.
But a rough night at the dot for Coyle on Tuesday set the stage for a tough result, with Coyle losing the D-zone faceoff against Draisaitl that led to his equalizing goal seconds later in the third period.
Boston hasn’t found much in terms of faceoff support further down on the depth chart, either.
With Johnny Beecher (53.9%) still down in Providence, the Bruins have had to turn to skaters like Trent Frederic (45.5%), Morgan Geekie (42.7%), and Jesper Boqvist (41.4%) to win faceoffs when needed. The results have left a lot to be desired.
After ranking second in the NHL in faceoff percentage last season at 54.5%, Boston ranks 21st in that same department this season at 49.2%. The Bruins have lost the fifth-most defensive-zone faceoffs this year at 683.
Shoring up that area of the game may not be as appealing as adding a bruising presence on the checking unit or a stout third-pairing defenseman. But relinquishing puck possession with the game on the line is going to burn Boston at the worst possible time come April.
“It’s mental. In the playoffs, everything’s mental,” Montgomery noted. “Everybody is on an equal playing field, you’re playing the same team that has the same many days off, rest, whatever. And that’s where you got to dig in and find a way. So for me, it’s an opportunity to start growing for the playoffs — the mindset and the physical execution you need.”
It remains to be seen how the Bruins address this deficiency in their lineup between now and Friday. But Boston might have been handed a lifeline amid reports that Elias Lindholm is being dangled out on the trade market by the Canucks.
With three 60-point seasons under his belt, the 29-year-old Lindholm is an appealing target for a Bruins team that might still be on the prowl for a top-six pivot for the long haul.
But beyond his O-zone production and sturdy D-zone play, Lindholm has won 56.0% of his faceoffs this season, including a sterling 58.1% showing over 14 games with the Canucks.
Just some food for thought for a Bruins team that continues to play with fire.
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