The Boston Bruins failed to close out their fourth third-period lead over the past six games against the Seattle Kraken on Monday.
The Boston Bruins failed to close out their fourth third-period lead over the past six games against the Seattle Kraken on Monday.
For the sixth game in a row, the Boston Bruins needed more than regulation to decide the result, ultimately falling 4-3 in a shootout to the Seattle Kraken.
The Bruins, who fall to 34-12-14, are the first team to have six straight games go to overtime/shootout since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017-18.
David Pastrnak had two goals and an assist, and Linus Ullmark made 24 saves. Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle and Charlie McAvoy missed their respective chances in the shootout, while Kailer Yamamoto capitalized for Seattle to earn the extra point. Boston finished their four-game road trip with a 1-0-3 record.
It marked the second game in a row Boston lost after entering the third period with a lead, and the fourth time it squandered a third-period lead in the past six games.
The Bruins fell into the same habits when playing with a lead in the third period that have plagued them recently: Sitting back and letting Seattle control the offensive zone possession.
The Kraken outshot Boston 9-1 in the first 5:30 of the third, tying the game 2-2 on the ninth shot when Vince Dunn beat Ullmark with a snap shot from the left face-off circle.
Morgan Geekie appeared to give the Bruins their third lead of the game at 10:47 of the third after he skated in on Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer to get it across the line, but it was called back for goalie interference after a lengthy review.
Oliver Bjorkstrand put Seattle in front 3-2 at 14:30, deflecting Will Borgen’s point shot at the net front, but Coyle tied it 3-3 on the power play at 17:08, tipping in Pastrnak’s shot from the top of the right circle.
The Bruins struck first at 5:53 of the first period when Pastrnak got behind the Seattle defense to receive Kevin Shattenkirk’s stretch pass and finish on a breakaway.
After Justin Brazeau was sent to the penalty box for a questionable hooking call, Ullmark attempted to clear the puck out but he threw it right into Seattle forward Jordan Eberle, who tapped the puck in to tie it 1-1 at 4:45 of the second period.
Pastrnak regained the lead at 17:08, finishing off Pavel Zacha’s pass from behind the net after McAvoy made an impressive play to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Jake DeBrusk had a chance to end the game on a breakaway at 3:13 of overtime, but Grubauer blocked it away.
The Bruins return to TD Garden on Thursday when they host the Vegas Golden Knights.
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