HIGHLIGHTS: Bruins blow another lead, fall in shootout
The good news is that the Bruins have wrapped up their four-game road swing with five of a possible eight points banked away. The bad news, of course, is that they did in the ugliest way possible, with Monday’s 4-3 loss in Seattle marking Boston’s third straight extra-session defeat, wrapping the road swing up with a 1-0-3 record.
And for the Bruins, it came with some familiar issues, as the Bruins blew yet another third-period lead in the process, this time with Linus Ullmark (24 saves) in net and with the B’s clinging to a one-goal lead through 40 minutes.
Now, if you’re looking for silver linings within that third-period lead blowing up in Boston’s face once again, it’s worth noting that the Bruins did battle back from a 3-2 deficit in the third frame, and forced overtime with a goal from Charlie Coyle (originally credited to David Pastrnak) with 2:52 remaining in the third period.
Pastrnak also returned to his standard in this contest after a somewhat sluggish-looking night in Vancouver this past Saturday, as No. 88 factored in all three Boston goals in this contest, with two goals and a primary assist.
The Bruins also found themselves on the wrong end of a tough call, with a Morgan Geekie goal wiped off the board after a successful coach’s challenge — a successful coach’s challenge that took about four minutes for an absolutely insane reason — from the Kraken deemed that Geekie interfered with Seattle netminder Philipp Grubauer.
No goal here for Morgan Geekie due to goaltender interference. pic.twitter.com/srMWDa0wc4
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 27, 2024
But it was Boston’s inability to protect a lead that once again cost the team, as the Bruins suffered their ninth loss (one in regulation, eight in overtime or a shootout) when leading after two periods of play.
Down to .735 and 28th in the NHL. https://t.co/ImAsswKkYc
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) February 27, 2024
For some additional context on that dropoff, last year’s Black and Gold squad finished the regular season with a 47-1-2 record when leading after two periods of play, with their .940 winning percentage on that front ranking tops in the NHL.
Already shorthanded with Hampus Lindholm unavailable and back in Boston, the Bruins played this game without defenseman Derek Forbort after Forbort missed a team meeting. With Forbort out, Kevin Shattenkirk returned to the Boston lineup and finished with an assist and two shots in 13:08 of time on ice.
The Bruins will return to action Thursday night when they play host to Bruce Cassidy and the Golden Knights.
