Boston Bruins Fall 5-1 to Winnipeg Jets In Disjointed Showing

The Boston Bruins did little right Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets, falling 5-1 in a game that was essentially won in the opening 10 minutes by their opponents.

The B’s losing streak extended to three games – tying their longest drought of the season – and their record dropped to 19-6-6.

The Bruins almost snuck out of the first period 0-0, but the Jets potted one with eight seconds remaining. Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey knocked in the rebound of forward Gabriel Vilardi’s shot off the rush for the 1-0 advantage at 19:52.

Boston was lucky to be down by just one goal after an opening frame that was dominated by the Jets – especially on the forecheck where they suffocated the Bruins’ breakout. What’s more, Winnipeg hemmed the B’s into their own zone, pushed them off pucks and pounced on unprotected, net-front second chances.

Vilardi got a goal of his own at 11:17 of the second period to make it 2-0. Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers threw the puck on net from a tough angle, but it bounced through Brandon Carlo’s skates in the crease and out to Vilardi below the goal line who banked it in.

The Bruins gained some juice from Jeremy Swayman’s penalty shot save on Winnipeg point-leader Mark Cheifele at 17:16, however gave the momentum right back to the Jets less than 30 seconds later.

Forward Nino Niederreiter was left completely open in the slot on the power play, dropped the puck past Swayman and took his time doing so with the lack of coverage. Niederreiter’s tally put the Jets up 3-0 at 17:41.

For a team that has harped on protecting down-low ice – specifically the slot – the Bruins did anything but on Friday, and it bit them again at 1:25 in the final stanza.

While Charlie McAvoy and Kevin Shattenkirk were both in the paint with Adam Lowry, the Winnipeg captain still got inside positioning on them, allowing an easy pass from forward Mason Appleton. Lowry’s tap-in tally looked all too easy.

Carlo got the Bruins on the board at 14:22 of the third period with a blast from the point, denying Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck the shutout in what was ultimately a 24-save performance.

Niederreiter then netted his second power play goal of the night with 19 seconds left in regulation, once again, standing alone in the slot as the Bruins sat and watched. The stinger brought the game to its final 5-1 score.

The Bruins have a quick turnaround to rid themselves of Friday’s disjointed, sluggish play. Boston will take on the Minnesota Wild Saturday at Xcel Energy Center for a 7 p.m. puck drop, marking the second time the teams are meeting this week.