The Boston Bruins failed to show up in their 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals Saturday afternoon at TD Garden.
The Boston Bruins failed to show up in their 3-0 loss to the Washington Capitals Saturday afternoon at TD Garden.
Tuesday against the Calgary Flames was bad. Saturday against the Washington Capitals was worse.
The Boston Bruins fell 3-0 to the Capitals Saturday afternoon at TD Garden in a game in which they never got close to their standard of play.
“We will change or things will change…It’s not acceptable. We were just bad,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said.
Turnovers, indirect passes and lackadaisical defense plagued the 60 minutes. Boos roared down from the crowd for the second time this week as the B’s failed to put not just a winning, but watchable product on the ice for their fans.
“I think the culture that’s been established here in years past, especially since I’ve been here, you come to work every single day,” Brandon Carlo said. “I love the fact that the fans and this organization hold us accountable when we don’t come to work, to play, to be at our best. That’s what you want from a fanbase.”
Teams are going to be desperate in the second half of the season, but that cannot be a scapegoat for the Bruins’ poor performance. The Capitals, sure, were good. But Boston never even showed up.
“It just shouldn’t happen. There’s no excuse for it. I really have nothing to say to change that. It just shouldn’t be a thing – and we’ve seen it twice in the last three games,” Charlie Coyle said.
Matt Grzelcyk was dealt a five-minute major and game misconduct for spearing Washington forward Max Pacioretty at 18:13 of the first period. While the Bruins penalty kill held strong to close out the opening frame, the Capitals scored on the man advantage at the beginning of the second period.
TJ Oshie picked up his ninth goal of the season off a wrister from the slot, dished to him from Pacioretty who was stationed below the goal line. Penalty kill stalwart Carlo’s stick broke moments before the goal, aiding the Capitals to grab the 1-0 lead at 1:05.
The Bruins put up just four shots on goal in the period, and headed into the third trailing 23-8 in that category.
“We’ve got to find a way. That’s what good teams do,” Brad Marchand said. “You’ve got to take it on yourself, a little bit of ownership to try to be a difference out there and try to turn the tide and the momentum. We didn’t have that tonight.”
Jeremy Swayman – who ended the night with 25 saves – seemed to be the only Bruin aware of the game unfolding in front of them. The goaltender was sharp from the start, and the main reason Boston was down by just one after 40 minutes of play.
However, Washington doubled its lead in the final stanza with Dylan Strome’s goal at 3:27. A Coyle turnover turned into a 2-on-1 rush the other way with Strome and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin carried the puck into the offensive zone and darted it to Strome who snapped it bar-down for the 2-0 score and his 20th tally of the year.
The Bruins had three power plays in the third period to try to cut the deficit to one, but could not convert. Ovechkin ultimately sealed the Capitals’ win with an empty-net goal at 19:33 for the final 3-0 scoreline and his 12th tuck of the season.
Boston will look to change, well, everything about its play ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden.
“It’s not just one guy,” Coyle said. “Everyone’s got to pick it up. Whether you’ve got to talk a little more, get the energy up, get the pace up, play more of a simple game.”
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