Bruins can’t get out of their own way in 4-1 loss to Kraken
The Boston Bruins fell out of first place in the Atlantic Division on Thursday night, as the Seattle Kraken grabbed a 4-1 win at TD Garden. The Bruins are now 1-3-1 since returning from the All-Star break, and with the loss will cede first place in the Atlantic Division to the Florida Panthers.
Boston lost despite out-shooting Seattle 38-26 on the night. The Bruins could not capitalize enough on their opportunities, despite a 13-5 advantage in 5-on-5 high-danger chances. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, meanwhile, stopped just 23 of 26 Kraken shots in a shaky outing, falling to 16-6-7.
The Bruins did have a hot start. The Kraken couldn’t survive an early flood from the Bruins’ forward line of Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha, and David Pastrnak, as the latter mashed a loose puck past a sprawled Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord for a 1-0 lead.
Pasta on the putback 🍝 pic.twitter.com/yx7I1voKMJ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 16, 2024
However, the Kraken answered less than five minutes later, after Swayman lost sight of the puck down low. The Bruins defense couldn’t clear the puck out of danger before Jordan Eberle roofed his own rebound to tie the game, 1-1.
Eberle buries his own rebound for his tenth of the year! 🦑 pic.twitter.com/ttgQYmLpYY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2024
With the second period in its closing minutes and the Bruins well in control of the action, disaster struck. Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo fell as he received a pass at the blue line, giving the Kraken a sudden 3-on-1 rush. Eeli Tolvanen and Matty Beniers completed the give-and-go for the goal to give their team a 2-1 lead that they took into the second intermission.
this whole sequence was just.... *chef's kiss* pic.twitter.com/R9547acN0a
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) February 16, 2024
It only got worse for the Bruins from there. Beniers joined in on the scoring when Alex Wennberg found him with a stretch pass to spark a 2-on-1. Beniers straight-up beat Swayman high, blocker side to give the Kraken a 3-1 lead.
Beniers blasts it for the two goal lead 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lPImBO4qEX
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2024
An empty netter by Jared McCann sealed the game for Seattle.
Up Next: The Bruins will try to get out of their recent slump next on Saturday afternoon, when their homestand continues against the Los Angeles Kings at 12:30.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
