By: Chad Jones I Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
Before the Boston Bruins embarked on this five-game road trip, the club was playing its best hockey of the season. Under head coach Joe Saco, Boston had been victorious in seven of nine contests, including a four-game winning streak. But when the Bruins took the ice against the formidable Winnipeg Jets, Boston’s winning streak did not just come to an end; it was annihilated.
On Tuesday night, the Bruins kicked off their road trip by getting dusted 8-1 by the Jets. Jeremy Swayman allowed a career-high eight goals against. In 21 starts this season, Swayman has given up at least six tallies on three occasions. Last season, he only allowed the feat to occur once in 44 appearances.
“I think some of the goals that I let in, I know I can stop,” Swayman told the media postgame. “And that’s something that I hold myself as a standard. And, when you let those in, it’s not a great feeling. So, I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again, and staying sharp, and playing my game. I know that I can stop those goals, so that’s what I’m going to do and push forward.”
The Jets torched the Bruins’ penalty kill, lighting the lamp three times on the man advantage. Talented wingers Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele stuffed the stat sheet for Winnipeg, putting up three goals and three assists between them.
Boston could not mount a consistent five-on-five attack to pressure two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Their lone goal came courtesy of a David Pastrnak one-timer on the power play.
With a full day off to travel and lick their wounds, the Bruins crossed the Canadian border and arrived in the Pacific Northwest for a date against the Seattle Kraken. Not even 20 seconds into the contest, Pastrnak was guilty of a double minor for clipping Jamie Oleksiak in the face. Almost immediately, Oliver Bjorkstrand tipped in the opening score, beating Joonas Korpisalo. As the power play ended, Jaden Schwartz’s backhand went top shelf for Seattle’s second score of the night.
After Boston was able to cut the lead in half courtesy of a Brad Marchand penalty shot score, the Bruins searched for the equalizer. But there was no game-tying goal to be found, as the Kracken put up two insurance scores in the third period before putting the game on ice with an empty netter. The final score was 5-1.
“We got to clean it up defensively, big time,” the Bruins captain told the media postgame. “We can’t be giving up five and six goals a game. That’s not the type of team we are.”
Two games into this important road trip, Boston has allowed 13 goals, four of which have been on the penalty kill. They have also yet to beat an opposing goaltender at even strength. The Bruins have been sloppy and ineffective regarding special teams, defending in their own zone, finishing in the opponents’ zone, and stopping pucks in the crease. Boston still has to make stops in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton before returning home. If the Bruins want to get back to the level of play they were at before they embarked on this trip, the entire roster will need to sharpen the details, heighten the focus, and up the competitive level.
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