By: Ryan Jainchill | Follow me on Twitter / X @Jainchill_Ryan
The Boston Bruins were defeated 4-0 by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, getting shutout for the third time this season. The Bruins surrendered three power-play goals and took eight penalties on the night. They could not beat Maple Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz, who stopped all 29 shots he faced.
For Boston, goaltender Jeremy Swayman saved 23 of the 26 shots he saw. David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Nikita Zadorov tied for the team lead with four shots on goal a piece. McAvoy also led all Bruins in ice time with 24:20.
This loss marks the first regular season loss to Toronto in eight games, dating back to January of 2023. Before that, the Bruins’ last loss against their fellow Original Six member was in November of 2022, a 2-1 loss at the Scotiabank Arena.
Lack of Discipline Leading to Goals Against
The Bruins’ lack of discipline tonight cost them on the score sheet. As mentioned, the team was penalized eight times, and even while facing a Toronto power play that came into the night ranked 31st in the league, it cost them.
The turning point in this one was a Zadorov interference penalty, which came after a lack of communication between him and Swayman. With one of their key penalty killers in the box and another in Andrew Peeke leaving the game in the first period and not returning, Morgan Rielly beat Swayman with a screened shot from the point just seconds into the penalty.
Minutes later, Pastrnak was guilty of an offensive zone high stick, putting the Bruins shorthanded again. The Bruins would be victimized again, with William Nylander banking a shot off Brandon Carlo’s leg and past Swayman. While the penalty kill structure wasn’t the issue for the two power-play goals in the second period, the lack of discipline was costly for the Bruins tonight.
In the third period, a Mark Kastelic roughing penalty away from the play canceled out the Bruins’ growing momentum and put them shorthanded once again. A miscommunication between Carlo and Hampus Lindholm allowed Matthew Knies to park in front of Swayman and tip home Nylander’s point shot to give the Leafs a 3-0 lead and their third power-play tally of the evening.
Power Play Unable to Connect
The Bruins were 0-6 on the power play tonight, significantly contributing to their inability to get on the scoresheet. The team recorded 12 shots on goal across their six man-advantages but could not beat Stolarz. Pastrnak recorded four of those 12 shots, including a between the legs chance that Stolarz saved.
While nothing looked glaringly off about the power play, the Bruins’ lack of finishing sunk them. The shot mentality was evident with the 12 shots, but when they got those grade-A chances, they could not capitalize. Stolarz was on his game tonight, as the 6’6” netminder stayed back in his goal and took up much of the net, thus thwarting good looks.
The Bruins currently rank 28th in the league in power play percentage, at a meager 13.3%. The team’s struggles with the man advantage have been prominent all season and continue to plague them. With their struggles, it’s no surprise that their scoring has taken a hit. With the talent that the Bruins can put out on the ice with the man advantage, the team must address their woes and get back to making their opponents pay when a man-up.
On the injury front, Peeke was on the receiving end of a Max Pacioretty hit into the end wall in the first period. The play was initially called a five-minute major but was later rescinded. Peeke did not return to the contest.
With the loss, the Bruins fall below NHL .500 and continue their slow start to the 2024-25 season. The team returns home to TD Garden for their next two games, taking on the Calgary Flames on Thursday night and hosting the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night in Linus Ullmark’s return to Boston.
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