If it was not an altogether Black Friday for the Bruins, it certainly was a gray one.
After announcing that punishing equalizer Milan Lucic will be lost for up to a month with a high-ankle sprain, the Bruins came up just short in a 2-1 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils in a “it sure beats shopping at the mall” matinee at TD Garden.
Looking to build upon the energy of a perfect four-game road trip, Boston rallied to force overtime, only to have New Jersey shooters Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner win breakaway showdowns with Tuuka Rask in the shootout.
Still, for the 10th time in their last 11 games the Bruins managed to earn at least a point in the standings. They will take the ice hosting Ottawa Saturday night, tied with the Senators for first place in the Northeast Division.
There is more good, than bad, with the Bruins game right now. Certainly enough generally positive play to realistically look for the team to remain in the fight for the division lead while Lucic is sidelined.
But Friday’s loss to the Devils also continued to illuminate shortcoming in the B’s play, issues that will have to be worked out if Boston hopes to be in the long-term fight with New Jersey for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Here’s what we were left to digest Friday.
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR REWORKED LINES
The Bruins short term adjustment to losing Lucic was to move Blake Wheeler onto the left wing with center Marc Savard and right wing Byron Bitz. In turn, Vladimir Sobotka moved from the press box into Wheeler’s spot on the left wing with center David Krejci and Michael Ryder.
It took sometime for the new combinations to click, but the Bruins did manage to pick up their offensive pressure at Friday’s game developed, increasing their shot total each period.
The Krejci line came up empty on the scoreboard, but was able to generate substantial pressure. Ryder and Sobotka each had three shots on goal, with Krejci adding a shot as well.
Wheeler has been playing solid hockey lately and continued that form Friday, scoring the Bruins only goal in regulation play and the shootout.
“When we get really going I think you’re going to see a lot of puck control in the offensive zone,” said Wheeler. “Bitz is probably the best on our team at lugging the puck behind the net and (Savard) is also real good behind the net as well. If we really star buzzing the puck around the offensive zone we are going to create a lot of scoring chances that way.”
The trio showed its best cohesion in the opening moments of the third period with the Bruins trailing 1-0. Just 12 seconds into the period, Savard gathered a crazy bounce off the sanction behind the New Jersey net and kept the puck alive for Bitz, who whisked it to Wheeler for one-time blast from the low left-circle drawing Boston even.
“We got better, it took us a little bit to get going, obviously in the third (period) when you score on your first shift it’s a huge goal,” said Savard. “The big thing was maybe getting the plane legs out and the turkey out too.”
SAVARD STILL GETTING STARTED
Savard’s assist was the first point he has earned in three games since returning to the lineup Monday after being sidelined five weeks with a broken foot.
“I’m still sucking a bit of wind,” said Savard, who has led the Bruins in scoring the past three seasons. “I’m feeling a little bit better. I’m trying to keep my shifts short.”
The Bruins power play is also still trying to come up to speed with Savard back in the mix.
An 0-3 effort against the Devils Friday left the Bruins just 4 for 24 with a man-advantage over the past seven games and a pathetic 12 for 86 on the season (14 %).
BEATING BRODEUR IS A TUUKA TASK
Finding ways to defeat goalie Martin Brodeur and the Devils is never an easy task, trying to do so on a night he surpassed Patrick Roy to establish a new NHL record for career minutes played (60,280) was going to be especially difficult.
Yet, Bruins super calm rookie goalie Tuuka Rask was matching Brodeur save for save through 65 minutes of hockey.
Then Parise made his was to center ice for the shootout.
Needing to beat Rask to keep the Devils hopes alive, Parise made several moves with the puck before unleashing a blinding last minute shift to his forehand to swipe the puck by Rask.
“He went so wide to my glove side I was really out in left field there (when he cut back),” said Rask. “I though I made a good stretch, but that was a tough shot.”
Langenbrunner then finished things off beating Rask with a five-hole wrist shot and the Bruins four-game winning streak was over.
The slick move by Parise, who is among the NHL scoring leaders, showcased how slight the margin of error can be in overtime hockey and the Bruins have certainly tested that margin.
The B’s have ventured into overtime in three of their last four games and six of their last eight. They have gone 3-3 in post-regulation play during that stretch.
“It sucks to lose in overtime or a shootout,” said Rask who is now 4-2 in overtime and shootouts decisions this season.
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