The favorable tidings? A Bruins team plagued by scoring droughts scored at least four goals for the fifth straight game.
The unfavorable report? The Bruins couldn’t hold onto two points at TD Garden on Thursday despite a five-goal burst.
In terms of entertainment value, the majority of fans thought Boston’s 6-5 regulation loss to the Penguins was well worth the price of admission.
Brad Marchand’s first goal, which came only 41 seconds into the first period, was a precursor to things to come. In the first 7:21 of play, Boston and Pittsburgh combined for five goals, the fastest five-goal output from the start of a game this season.
The Bruins faced a 5-2 disadvantage before the middle of the second period.
Jim Montgomery gave his guys a pat on the back for coming back to tie the game in the third, but it was too little, too late on Causeway Street.
At 11:19 in the third, Sidney Crosby took Pittsburgh the lead for good, ending the tie and ending Boston’s four-game winning streak.
Charlie Coyle remarked after the game, “It was great to see. We pride ourselves on never quitting.” However, it’s not a good idea to make a few mistakes in that game. Although we always know that we would fight back, that shouldn’t happen. We put ourselves in too much trouble.
A cursory glance at the scoresheet reveals where Boston went wrong: the Bruins gave up six goals for only the second time this season.
However, Montgomery was more concerned with how Pittsburgh produced their offense.
Jeremy Swayman didn’t have a great game, giving up six goals on 35 shots, but he wasn’t helped much by the next line of defense in front of him either.
Extra Penguins skaters encamped at the netfront were responsible for both of Pittsburgh’s first goals; fewer than five minutes after Marchand’s initial goal, Drew O’Connor scored on a rebound.
An odd-man rush led to Pittsburgh’s third goal of the game; when Crosby and linemate Jake Guentzel are pressing hard, even the best goalies in the NHL are bound to lose.
Montgomery declared, “I don’t like our management of the ice.” “It bothers me when we give up odd-man rushes, whether it’s during a five-on-five or power play. We gave away a penalty kick that would have given them the lead and ultimately the sixth goal.
We’re simply not making wise selections. We are pushing things that don’t need to be pushed. There’s a lot of offense coming at us. We didn’t need to take the offensive. Unfortunately, I believe we lost the game because of poor game management.